Pervasive Media Studio supports a creative community to make extraordinary and inspiring work. We foreground the power of art and the imagination to direct technology towards a more inclusive, playful and sustainable world. Every year we write a report for our funders (Watershed, Arts Council England, UWE Bristol and the University of Bristol). This brings together evaluations of our funded programmes with the stories that the community give us us; collected through conversations, feedback moments and a survey that we ask all Residents to complete. Without their generosity we wouldn't be able to keep the Studio going - so THANK YOU to everyone that trusted us with their information. 

In last year's report we reflected on the severe impact that the economic climate was having on Residents’ finances (as well as their wellbeing). There was a slight increase in the Resident turnover this year which gives us reason for cautious optimism, but it still remains significantly lower than in previous years. We also know that many people are struggling with the lack of public funding, cost of living crisis and the material, emotional and psychological impact of global events.

During 2022/23 we invited 10 new Residents to join us on a permanent basis and offered 58 temporary residencies. We offered hundred of hours of timebank sessions for advice in marketing, producing, creative technology, inclusion and business advice. And we hosted monthly studio lunches as well as themed community conversations on issues of interest to the community (including Hope and Hardship, Death and Technology and Faith and Technology). We also kicked off Alternative Technologies - an enquiry into how we shift from an extractive economy to a to a life affirming, regenerative one.

Our drive to engage public audiences with research and development has gathered real momentum. Alongside our popular First Friday and Lunchtime Talk programme we ran workshops with families, schools, pop-up sessions with customers in the bar, standalone showcase events and bespoke testing sessions – a total of 120 events reaching public audiences of 21,273. A sample survey of audiences revealed that 42% of attendees had not engaged with Pervasive Media Studio before, and 100% would recommend the event to a friend or colleague. 

In September 2023, we began a year-long programmatic focus for the first time - Other Minds. We were interested in what would happen if we tried to meet AI as one of many forms of intelligence whose qualities might balance our own?  Would it become our partner in revealing the world, rather than another tool with which to control it? What would we make then? Launching with our Artist Residency programme, the theme spanned talent development, commissioning, research and public events bringing together many different opinions and practices. 

This is just a glimpse of what we got up to last year, you can read the full report here:  

2023_24 Studio Activity Report for sharing (1).pdf