Blast Theory

Blast Theory Blast Theory makes interactive art. Blast Theory have been nominated for four BAFTAs and won the 2016 Nam June Paik Arts Center Prize.

Blast Theory has been making interactive artworks for 30 years, exploring the social and political aspects of technology and developing new forms of performance and interactive art. Renowned internationally as one of the most adventurous artists’ groups using interactive media, Blast Theory have presented work all over the world, from the Venice Biennale to the Sundance Film Festival.

Join us next week for Resistance: Being An Artist In The World Today🗓️ 6-8pm, Wednesday 18 March 2025📍 Blast Theory Stud...
12/03/2026

Join us next week for Resistance: Being An Artist In The World Today

🗓️ 6-8pm, Wednesday 18 March 2025
📍 Blast Theory Studio
🎫 Free entry

How do you live in the world right now as an artist? Do you respond, resist, or quietly absorb? This Pot Luck is about what it means to make work in the current moment, and where the ‘political’ sits in what you do.

We’ll explore different forms and starting points: what other artists are making directly in response to the times we’re in, where you find the political in your own practice, and how that might open up new ways of working.

RSVP to our March Pot Luck by emailing [email protected]

Coming up for Pot Luck in 2026...📆 6 pm – 8 pm, Wednesday 7 January 2026Our next Pot Luck will be all about writing to o...
18/12/2025

Coming up for Pot Luck in 2026...

📆 6 pm – 8 pm, Wednesday 7 January 2026
Our next Pot Luck will be all about writing to our future selves. We will get specific. We will make something without a screen. It will be something to keep and open at a decided time, for a reason you choose.

Check out eighteenth-century cross-writing in advance, or photographer Sally Mann’s new book, Art Work, which includes a decades-long correspondence with another photographer.

Or ponder on the last letter you wrote and what your future self might like to receive…

📆 6 pm – 8 pm, Wednesday 4 March 2026

At our March Pot Luck, we are going to learn a dance together. You don’t have to have a dancing bone in your body: only the desire to move, a shimmy, a strut or a sway. It’s all about you honouring yourself, however you show up.

Find out more and RSVP: https://www.blasttheory.co.uk/news-item/2026-coming-up-for-pot-luck/

Little round up from last week's Pot Luck. Thanks to everyone for bringing joy, food, friends and creativity to the tabl...
21/11/2025

Little round up from last week's Pot Luck. Thanks to everyone for bringing joy, food, friends and creativity to the table.

If you're local and want to come along to one of our next events, subscribe to our newsletter to get future dates straight to your inbox - link in bio 😊

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Pot Luck is a unique social club for creative people. Hosted at the Blast Theory studios in Portslade every two months and led by artist Ju Row Farr, Pot Luck events are a chance to try things out, meet new people, get inspired and find new ways to move forward.

Pot Luck is designed to build confidence, develop skills and facilitate connections. You might be looking for inspiration, changing direction, or you might be at the end of a course and thinking about what’s next. You might have a strong creative twinkle that needs attention; you might be working on a project and need something else.

All sorts of people come with all kinds of creative experiences. There are always new faces as well as regulars: we never know who will be in the room, and that’s part of what makes it exciting.

Head on over to the Digital Culture Podcast to hear our Communications Manager, Jonny Goode, make their podcast debut 🎙️...
20/11/2025

Head on over to the Digital Culture Podcast to hear our Communications Manager, Jonny Goode, make their podcast debut 🎙️

In this episode, host James Akers speaks with Jonny about how they’ve used data dashboards, artist-led content, and transparent digital practice to shape Blast Theory’s comms strategy and support others across the sector.

James and Jonny discuss:
- How automation can free up time for creative planning ⏳
- What strong digital storytelling can achieve for audience engagement 📖
- Why sharing knowledge helps build confidence in digital practice 🧠

This episode is part of Digital Culture Network's 10-week limited series featuring all the 2025 Digital Culture Award winners.

Listen and subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcast or wherever you listen! https://lnkd.in/eBknvPuy

Arts Council England

📣 PAID OPPORTUNITY 📣We’re looking for two access testers to take part in a paid, in-person testing session of Rider Spok...
13/11/2025

📣 PAID OPPORTUNITY 📣

We’re looking for two access testers to take part in a paid, in-person testing session of Rider Spoke: Here, a brand new immersive mobile app experience using AI.

We’re seeking:

- Someone who regularly uses captions or subtitles for audio/video access
- Someone who uses a screen reader regularly for access

£100 flat fee for a 3-hour session
Travel expenses covered

Find out more and apply: https://bit.ly/access-testing-rshere

Join us next week for Pot Luck: Air Drying Clay Building🗓️ 6-8pm, Wednesday 12 November 2025📍 Blast Theory Studio🎫 Free ...
04/11/2025

Join us next week for Pot Luck: Air Drying Clay Building
🗓️ 6-8pm, Wednesday 12 November 2025
📍 Blast Theory Studio
🎫 Free entry

About the event from our host, Ju:

This one really is a Pot Luck for me too, as I’m not a natural with clay!

But we will have fun and learn together, as we get our hands into some soft, juicy, air-dry clay. You can make anything you want... something useful, or perhaps a festive gift?

It’s the last Pot Luck before the festive season, so suitable mood lighting, mulled wine and hot soup will be provided.

Bring yourself, bring a friend, plus a contribution to the food would be very welcome - vegan or vegetarian preferred.

There will be lots of inspiration, help and materials, plus boxes to take your work away in.

Looking forward to seeing what occurs.

And don’t forget to rsvp - [email protected]

Warmest as always

- Ju x

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Pot Luck is based on the Potlatch, a North American Indigenous communal meal or gathering in which everyone brings something to contribute to the meal or to give away.

Eating together is a central part of the evening, and we encourage everyone to bring something to share, which is either vegetarian or vegan. Alongside a dish, we encourage you to bring a friend or someone curious.

There is always something to take away, connected to the theme of the evening. Often, you might take away a new idea, an object, some new writing, or a potential collaborator or friend.

Hopefully, you will leave with a full belly and feel different to when you arrived.

Something special is happening at the studio this November... 🧵✂️Our neighbour, Geri Li, founder of Pattern Wiz, is host...
09/10/2025

Something special is happening at the studio this November... 🧵✂️

Our neighbour, Geri Li, founder of Pattern Wiz, is hosting a brand new pattern cutting course right here at the studio.

Over two weekends (1/2 & 22/23 November), you'll have the opportunity to design and pattern cut a garment that connects you to your heritage and culture.

Suitable for beginner+ level with basic sewing machine experience.

Course cost: £280

To book or make an enquiry, contact Geri at [email protected]

29/09/2025

Sound the klaxon! Our short film, The Unstruck Sound, has been awarded Best Science Fiction at the 2025 Venice Shorts.

Our next Pot Luck is around the corner, and you're invited!📍 Blast Theory Studio, Free📆 6-8pm, Wednesday 10 September 20...
22/08/2025

Our next Pot Luck is around the corner, and you're invited!

📍 Blast Theory Studio, Free
📆 6-8pm, Wednesday 10 September 2025

This is not a guided drawing class, but rather a chance to really look and feel and let marks appear, using some techniques and tools which you might not have tried before.

What does mark-making mean to you or your work? And what can flow somewhere in between your brain and your hand?

There will be lots of materials available, but please bring anything you fancy using, and anyone you fancy bringing along!

Please RSVP to [email protected] as space is limited, and bring a vegetarian or vegan dish to share.

I’m looking forward to getting messy with you!

Warmest wishes as always,

Ju

07/08/2025

After our success at SXSW 2025, Blast Theory's Business Director Anne Rupert has pitched a panel of incredible minds to next year's festival to discuss sustainable models for creating XR (Extended Reality) artwork.

SXSW's PanelPicker lets the SXSW community have a voice in what sessions are programmed. And with community votes making up 30% of the final selection decisions, we need your votes!

Community voting ends on 24 August 2025.

You can cast your free vote here: https://bit.ly/btsxsw26. Simply load the page, click the heart icon next to our title and sign up.

About the panel:
The Systems We Build: Business Models for Meaningful XR

XR is booming… Or is it? How secure are business models in the interactive/immersive sector and how well do they support creators to have social impact? And how do you thrive - not just survive - as a creator, producer, developer of this type of work, right now? Acknowledging challenges and uncertainty but also highlighting opportunities, the panel reflect on their own journeys - including successes, challenges and startings-over - to explore alternative models and offer practical advice for creators and producers to make work that matters: including protecting your IP and your wellbeing.

Joining Anne on the panel:

Jonathan Williams: Jonathan is founding partner at immersive media company VRX and co-founder of the Intro to VR course at California Public Library. Jonathan's work uses future technology as a catalyst for social impact, with his award-winning VR works exploring topics including homelessness in LA and intergenerational communication.

Danielle Giroux: Danielle works at the intersection of storytelling, technology, craft, and community. After working in XR distribution for ASTREA, Danielle is now piloting an XR distribution research project focused on facilitation and soft skill frameworks, bridging grassroots efforts in New England and France with Unframed Collection.

Sarah Ticho: Sarah is a multidisciplinary artist, creative strategist, and change maker working at the threshold of immersive storytelling, healthcare, and collective healing. She is the founder of Hatsumi and the creator/co-director of the multi award winning SOUL PAINT, an XR experience that transforms body mapping into an interactive journey through emotion, sensation, and narrative.

Some behind-the-scenes shots of Proof As If Proof Were Needed's recent showing at the Digital Art Centre in Taipei.Photo...
31/07/2025

Some behind-the-scenes shots of Proof As If Proof Were Needed's recent showing at the Digital Art Centre in Taipei.

Photos by Anpis Wang 📸

Address

Portslade

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm

Telephone

+441273413455

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