Concept NULL Newsletter #43
👋 Welcome
✨Imbolc shona daoibh✨
Welcome to Newsletter #43. A month into 2025 already 🤯 - We wanted to take a moment to share some insights into the year ahead. In 2024, we hosted three meetups, ran an all-day TouchDesigner event, and kept these bi-monthly newsletters coming. This year, we’ve got some exciting events in the works, but to bring them to life, we need to pace ourselves. The meetup series has been an incredible way to experience the unique flavour of digital and new media art emerging from this island. The positive response has been amazing, and we absolutely plan to bring it back. But for now, we need to hit pause while we figure out how to make it sustainable for us.
So, things may be a little quieter over the next couple of months—but don’t worry, we’re cooking up some awesome things behind the scenes. In the meantime, enjoy the newsletters, and let us know what cool stuff you’re working on (:
Reminder: The Monthly Monday meetups continue over on the Digital Artists Ireland Discord this Monday at 7pm on the Monday Meetups voice channel. Drop in and say hi!
🎪 Events
Living Canvas at IMMA - February 2025
Organiser/s: IMMA
Location: Irish Museum of Modern Art
Date: 04-02-2025 → 17-02-2025
The screening programme presents contemporary art films and moving image works, allowing visitors and the wider community to enjoy a vibrant programme of artworks by Irish and international artists in IMMA’s beautiful surroundings. Featuring artists Karolina Adamczak, Bassam Issa Al-Sabah, Nadia J. Armstrong, Jill Beardsworth, Orla Comerford, Rachel Daly, Ara Devine, Aoife Dunne, Fiona Gordon, Michelle Hall, Elaine Hoey, Maria Maarbjerg, Aisling Phelan, and Nikolas Ryan, this programme not only celebrates the relevance and power of these artists’ voices but also the significant impact and influence of the RDS Visual Art Awards in Ireland and the vital exposure it provides for emerging visual artists as they move into early professional practice and beyond.
Adam Gibney - Cybernetic Reorientations of Being: NOVA
Organiser/s: Mermaid Arts Centre
Location: Wicklow
Date: 07-12-2024 → 08-02-2025
It's the last week to catch this exhibition in Mermaid Arts Centre! Conceived by artist Adam Gibney, this new commission explores self-replicating systems. A touchstone is research in the context of rapidly expanding AI systems, referencing Cambridge mathematician John Conway’s Game of Life (1971), a grid of cells that can thrive or die depending on a set of rules imposed by the player. A cellular automata of sorts, as a kind of artificial intelligence it uses very simple rules to replicate early life systems.
🛠️ Workshops
New Technologies in the VJ Field
Deadline: 11-02-2025
Organiser/s: Goethe Institut
Location: Online
Explore the world of VJing with this hands-on workshop covering live visual performance, video mapping, and content creation. Led by VJ’s Anonymous, a Portugal-based visual crew, the session blends artistic and technical insights while fostering collaboration. Part of the *Art Meets Tech* series, the program connects artists with emerging technologies like AI, Web3, and immersive media through interactive workshops and discussions, shaping the future of digital creativity.
Nerve Centre - Virtual Production & Unreal Engine Workshops - February 2025
Deadline: 07-02-2025
Organiser/s: Nerve Centre
Location: Northern Ireland
The future of visual effects lies in virtual production, where entire worlds are constructed within massive sound stages. Shows like Disney's The Mandalorian exemplify this revolutionary approach. Actors interact with digital environments in real-time, allowing for unprecedented creative freedom and on-set collaboration. This cutting-edge technology is thriving right here in Northern Ireland, and we're excited for you to experience it through this three-day intensive course. This course is aimed at 16–19 years old.
📖 Articles
Brian Eno released Generative Music on a floppy – here’s what it sounded like
Peter Kirn, cdm
In 1996, Brian Eno collaborated with interactive music pioneers Tim Cole and Pete Cole and their software SSEYO to create a completely generative album. Delivered on floppy disk, each rendition would be created anew in code. Of course, that means you need the floppy and a PC to experience the album. But here’s some video documentation by Canada’s Soft Automaton (producer/engineer/synth restorer).
📯 Open Calls
The Wrong Biennale 2025
Deadline: 29-03-2025
Organiser/s: The Wrong Bienalle
Location: Worldwide
The Wrong Biennale brings together artists, curators, institutions and public via online pavilions and offline embassies. The 7th edition, taking place from November 1st, 2025, to March 31st, 2026, is dedicated to artistically exploring the transformative potential of AI-generated art, video, and sound created by artists. We invite artists and curators to dive deep into the creative possibilities of artificial intelligence, showcasing how machine learning and algorithms can shape the future of digital art.
Live Performers Meeting 2025 Morocco - Call for performers
Deadline: 23-02-2025
Organiser/s: Live Performers Meeting
Location: Morocco
The Live Performers Meeting (LPM) 2025 Morocco invites artists to participate in its 26th edition, scheduled for April 3–6, 2025, in M'Hamid El Ghizlane, Morocco. This global event focuses on audiovisual performing arts, seeking contributions such as AV performances, live mapping shows, VJ sets, workshops, lectures, project showcases, and interactive installations. Artists interested in showcasing their work in these areas are encouraged to apply.
The Collision Project 2025
Deadline: 21-02-2025
Organiser/s: Screen Service
Location: Limerick
The Collision Project is an initiative by screen service that facilitates collaborative pairings between early career artists. It celebrates the open-ended, playful and process-driven experimentation of artists working in tandem. More in the link below.
Outset Open Call 2026
Deadline: 16-02-2025
Organiser/s: Outset Gallery
Location: Galway
Outset Gallery is thrilled to announce our Expressions of Interest 2026 Open Call. The primary aim of this open call is to provide artists, groups, organizations, curators, and producers an opportunity to propose new work in the form of exhibitions, events, and collaborations for inclusion in our 2026 program. More info in the link below.
Spacecraft OPEN CALL
Deadline: 15-02-2025
Organiser/s: Spacecraft
Location: Limerick
Spacecraft is inviting applications for our second round of our Associate Membership Scheme. The scheme is designed to provide more local artists with access to our facilities. We are offering two artist or art collective across all visual arts mediums the opportunity to utilise our project space on a part-time basis over a 6 month period, between March 2025 - August 2025. This is open to artist collectives, photography groups, exhibition groups and individual practitioners.
Call for Projects - MUTEK AI Ecologies Lab
Deadline: 14-02-2025
Organiser/s: MUTEK
Location: Montreal
The MUTEK AI Ecologies Lab is an interdisciplinary residency fostering innovative and sustainable approaches to AI in the cultural sector. As AI democratizes rapidly, its potential for creative exploration and global impact grows. However, the environmental toll of AI, including energy and water consumption, calls for urgent action to develop more sustainable practices. This lab provides a platform to examine these challenges while advancing AI-driven innovation in art and culture. The project is a collaboration between MUTEK, the Society for Arts and Technology (SAT), Applied AI Institute, Milieux Institute and Abundant Intelligences.
Forecast Mentorships’ 2025–26 - Open Call
Deadline: 10-02-2025
Organiser/s: Forecast
Location: Online / Berlin
Artistic practitioners and cultural producers working in all creative fields, anywhere in the world, are encouraged to apply to Forecast’s international mentorship program with projects that could benefit from the expertise of one of this edition’s mentors and their unique approach to material and knowledge production. The call is open to applicants of all ages and does not prescribe a theme. The only requirement is to submit projects that are relevant to the expertise of the mentor you wish to work with.
Prix Ars Electronica 2025
Deadline: 05-03-2025
Organiser/s: Prix Ars Elecontronica
Location: Linz
The Prix Ars Electronica is the world’s most time-honored media arts competition. Winners are eligible for the coveted Golden Nica awards and monetary prizes of up to 10,000 euros in each category. They will also be featured at the Ars Electronica Festival in September 3 – 7, 2025, in Linz, Austria!
Yes AI Can
Deadline: 01-03-2025
Organiser/s: Projekte.art
Location: Germany
projekte.art invites artists and interdisciplinary teams to submit digital artworks and performances for the first edition of the "Yes AI Can" festival . From September 25 to 28, 2025, the Nikolaikirche Rostock will be the venue for an art festival that combines exhibitions, performing arts and happenings. We are looking for works in the field of creation , artificial intelligence (AI) and fake news. The festival offers space for artistic projects that examine digital technologies and their interactions with space, society and theology. AI-generated works, interactive installations, audiovisual formats and performances of music, dance or theater with digital elements can be submitted. The sacred space of St. Nicholas Church forms a central reference point that invites an engagement with its spiritual and social context.
🏠 Residencies
Media Art Grants at the Edith-Russ-Haus
Deadline: 27-02-2025
Organiser/s: Edith-Russ-Haus for Media Art
Location: Germany
The Edith-Russ-Haus for Media Art, Oldenburg, will award three Media Art Grants of the Stiftung Niedersachsen (€12,500 each). The Stiftung Niedersachsen grant at the Edith-Russ-Haus for Media Art supports a wide spectrum of media art, from video art and net-based projects to audio works and audiovisual installations. Each of the three grants will be awarded for the production of a new project in the area of media art.
Jester Open Call Residencies: 2025-2026
Deadline: 16-02-2025
Organiser/s: Jester
Location: Belgium
Jester is pleased to present the open call for the 2025-26 residency programme. Jester supports emerging and international visual artists to expand their practice and experiment with new media in our workshops (wood, metal, ceramics and digital). Through artistic, productional and business guidance, Jester encourages these future jesters to question themselves, each other and the world. More info in the link below.
“Transition To 8: European societies in flux” - Residency Open Call
Deadline: 15-02-2025
Organiser/s: Transition To 8
Location: EU
Six artists will be selected to create original visual, audiovisual or sound works, integrating the provided data (such as air quality, heart rate, body temperature and skin conductance) collected from community engagement activities in three European territories. These works will explore the societal challenges linked to air pollution and climate change. Between May and July 2025, selected artists will visit one of the three pilot cities to immerse themselves in the local context, engage with communities, host workshops and open studio days
Interface - Where Science Meets Art - Residency
Deadline: 13-02-2025
Organiser/s: Interface
Location: Ireland
This residency prioritizes projects exploring the intersection of art and science or responding to the facility’s unique environment. Lasting 2–4 weeks, it offers a private studio, shared workspaces, and essential equipment. Artists receive studio space and accommodation but must cover their own travel and material transport. A car is necessary for travel between the studio and accommodation. The program also facilitates connections with the local artistic community through meetings and talks.
Evolve Practice Award 2025 – Digital Media
Deadline: 05-02-2025
Organiser/s: Fire Station
Location: Dublin
This award is dedicated to professional visual artists who want to expand their practice by testing new materials and techniques. Providing 12 weeks of free access to Digital Media facilities and equipment in FSAS and a €600 stipend, the award provides time for the recipient to develop and push their practice in a new direction receiving technical advice and guidance from the Digital Media Manager and curatorial assistance from the Programme and Outreach Manager. The overall value of the award is €2,570 including in-kind equipment and space rental, staff time and stipend.
AIR 2025 Residencies
Deadline: 04-02-2025
Organiser/s: Roscommon Arts Centre
Location: Roscommon
In 2025 Roscommon Arts Centre (RAC) will offer four residency opportunities under our “AIR Programme” through an Open Call.
Our New Voice Residency specifically for an artist/collective with an idea or project, who would benefit from receiving support to further develop the project.
The Seed Residency will offer an opportunity to an artist to start/develop a new idea/project/body of work and who would benefit from time and space in a studio/workshop setting with access to mentored support and resources.
The Next Steps Residency will offer an opportunity to an established artist/collective to develop/progress an already existing idea/project/body of work. Residency 4 Show Development in partnership with Motion Chapel The Show Development Residency is an exciting new partnership with Roscommon’s newest residency space Motion Chapel (MC) and Roscommon County Council Arts Office. See the link below for more details.
Art, Science, Technology and Society 2025
Deadline: 03-02-2025
Organiser/s: Goethe Institut
Location: Spain
As a centre for creation, Tabakalera has an international residency programme to support artists, creators, and cultural agents. This aid programme aims to support production processes and provide support on both a conceptual and production level. With the aim of supporting research, creation, and professionalisation in the field of Art, Science, Technology, and Society in the Basque artistic scene, Tabakalera - International Centre for Contemporary Culture is launching the second edition of this residency programme. This time with the collaboration of Goethe-Institut Madrid and Sónar+D, the digital culture and creative technologies meeting of the Barcelona festival Sónar.
BONFIRE Online Residency
Deadline: 01-03-2025
Organiser/s: Bonfire
Location: Online
BONFIRE is excited to launch a new online residency after five years of experience in the digital realm and a period of dedicated development. This two-month training program is designed to foster exchange and collaboration while providing you with the knowledge and tools to elevate your artistic practice. You’ll receive valuable guidance and unexpected experiences to help you grow both personally and artistically.
💰 Funding
Irish Arts Council Funding February 2025
Deadline: 13-02-2025
Organiser/s: Arts Council Ireland
Location: Ireland
There are a number of funding opportunities from the Irish Arts Council that have their applications open until February 13th. These include bursaries (up to €20,000) for visual art, arts participation, music, film, dance, opera, spectacle, circus and theatre.
🔓 Studio Vacancies
Studio Memberships at A4 Sounds
Deadline: 15-02-2025
Organiser/s: A4 Sounds
Location: Dublin
There are studio memberships available at A4 Sounds. Prices start from €75 per month for access to Shared Studio Space. A4 Sounds is a non-profit artist-run workspace and gallery in north-inner-city Dublin. It is one of the biggest artist-led spaces in Ireland, currently providing facilities and professional development supports to 70 artists. More info in the link below.
Creative Exchange
Deadline: 14-02-2025
Organiser/s: Creative Exchange
Location: Belfast
Creative Exchange have secured temporary studio spaces at Portview thanks to financial support from Belfast City Council. We would like to offer these spaces to artists who are in the early stages of their career and who have had limited or no access to a studio space. The studios will be available for approximately 9 months initially. Each studio will be shared by up to 4 artists splitting the total costs equally i.e approx £60 per month each if 4 artists occupy the studio. Applications will be considered from both individuals and small collectives.
That’s it for now! The newsletter gets sent out 1st and 15th of every month and we post open calls and events as they come in on our Instagram so be sure to follow us there.
Again, thank you for all of your support as we continue to grow our project with the help of a great community and, as we always say, we would love to hear your thoughts, projects, events or other open opportunities so drop us an email.
Chat soon, Concept NULL
[conceptnullofficial@gmail.com]