catalyst 360º

Open callS

CATALYST 360º / OPEN CALLS 2026

EXTENDED DEADLINE: 23RD JANUARY 2026 (5pm GMT)

Please note that the original deadline of the 9th of January has been extended by two weeks in response to extensive demand. New deadline: 23rd January 2026 at 5pm.

As part of our 2026 research and creation programme supported by the Arts Council of Wales, we are excited to announce the next round of Catalyst 360º:

3 Immersive Arts Residencies: Three residencies will support the research, development and presentation of innovative projects in our immersive dome space. Open to local and international artists, organisations and collectives with experience in creating immersive projects.

6 Live XR Showcases: Six projects will be selected to prototype and present work in our 360º immersive dome, making our cutting-edge facilities accessible for public presentation. Open to Wales-based artists, organisations, and collectives.

0 Barriers of Engagement: We are proud to be based in Grangetown and to collaborate with our local community through workshops, open rehearsals, talks, and guided tours. We are planning our Open Day for the sumemr of 2026 and will announce more information soon.

We have two distinct open calls as part of the Catalyst 360º programme, each designed to support artists and collectives in different ways. You’ll find all the details for each call outlined below. Please take the time to read through the information carefully to understand the opportunities and requirements for each strand.

Additionally, be sure to download the full guidelines to ensure your proposed project aligns with the objectives and criteria before submitting your application. We encourage you to review everything thoroughly to make the most of this exciting opportunity.

IMMERSIVE ARTS RESIDENCY 2026

1 Wales based artist or collective
1 UK based artist or collective
1 International artist or collective

This strand will facilitate 3 residency opportunities to support the research, development, and presentation of new immersive productions and live experiences. This open call is specifically aimed at local and international artists with experience in creating immersive projects, encouraging them to bring their expertise to develop innovative work within this unique medium.

The call invites creative practitioners to submit projects that leverage the unique capabilities of CULTVR Lab and its forward facing performance space, which features a 360º immersive dome with a 16.1 surround sound system. The Lab was formed to facilitate engagement with immersive arts and this is your chance to experiment, test ideas, and develop creative outcomes for presentation within this environment.

The intensive Immersive Residency Programme will support the awarded creatives for one month (this can be working remotely) with access to CULTVR’s dome venue over a period of 5 to 7 days (as a consecutive block or individual days spread over a month). The resources offered will be evaluated based on the needs of each project and the proposed schedule.

Final deadline: 23rd of January 2026 (5pm GMT)

For further information on the application process, please consult the full guidelines to ensure that your project aligns with the programme’s objectives:

Download the Full Guidelines HERE (PDF)

Additionally, you can download a template for your budget and timeline to help you structure your financial plans when preparing your application:

DOWNLOAD THE BUDGET AND TIMELINE TEMPLATE HERE (XLSX)

When you are ready, follow the link below to submit your application:

CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW - IMMERSIVE ARTS RESIDENCY

LIVE XR SHOWCASES 2026

6 Wales based artists or collectives

We invite Wales based artists, organisations, and collectives to apply for this open call opportunity. Six projects will be selected to rapidly prototype and present work for our highly adaptable immersive dome.

The aim of these Live XR showcases is to make our resources more accessible to artists, enabling them to utilise our facilities to present their work to the public.

This programme seeks to break down barriers of engagement, fostering diversity, equality, and inclusion within immersive arts. Additionally, we aim to empower artists to explore and express their creativity through digital media, ensuring they can engage with and contribute to the evolving landscape of creative expression.

This showcase is an excellent opportunity to test an existing or new concept with live audiences and gain valuable feedback. Our goal is to provide the tools and the space to help you amplify your vision and showcase your project.

Final deadline: 23rd of January 2026 (5pm GMT)

For further information on the application process, please consult the full guidelines to ensure that your project aligns with the programme’s objectives:

Download the Full Guidelines HERE (PDF)

When you are ready, follow the link below to submit your application:

CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW - LIVE XR SHOWCASES

FAQ – open calls

1. Do you have a PDF version of the Google Form?

Unfortunately, we don’t have a PDF version of the Google Form available. However, the application is quite short, so you should be able to complete it easily online. You’re welcome to draft your responses offline first and then copy them into the form when ready.

2. Can I collaborate with other artists during the residency or the showcases?

3. What costs are eligible to be included in the residency budget?

You can allocate funds to cover your own time spent on the project as well as to pay other creatives involved. Production expenses such as software, materials, hire of equipment and costs for making your project more accessible are also eligible. Costs that are not eligible include ongoing overheads, running costs as well as equipment purchases above £300. Please note, VAT should be included within the amounts stated, where applicable, and not added on top.

We recommend referencing industry standards for fair pay based on your role and responsibilities. More information can be found on the Arts Council Wales website.

4. Do you have an estimated minimum number of workdays required for the residency programme?

While we don’t have a strict minimum requirement, we recommend ensuring that key milestones and any on-site needs are properly covered within the chosen timeframe. With this in mind, we believe that spreading days across a month should be sufficient to achieve this. Given the budget available, we understand that full-time work for a month may not be feasible, so a lower number of days might be budgeted instead and they can be allocated across the month to facilitate the project.

5. Can I apply to both the Immersive Art Residencies and the Live XR Showcases?

You are welcome to apply to both, but please note that the conditions and access differ between the residencies and the showcase opportunities.

For Live XR showcases, there is only one day access before the public presentation, providing less time for creation compared to the residencies.

6. Is there support provided in terms of the production of content?

For successful applicants, we will conduct an induction workshop to provide an overview of our system and the fulldome format. While our team won’t be able to produce the full content for each selected project, we may offer support in other ways, such as guidance on adapting current content for the 360º screen as an example.

7. What is the outcome of the residency?

8. Would I get a confirmation email after my submission?

9. What are the Immersive Labs?

As part of the Live XR Showcases, you will have the option to join the Immersive Labs we are developing with Society for Arts & Technology (Montreal).

This programme offers the perfect opportunity to refine your skills in fulldome creation, collaborate with international artists, immerse yourself in the digital community and put your talents to the test in our dome.

Objective: The programme brings together artists from various disciplines (visual arts, music, sound design, interactivity) to work in teams and produce prototypes of immersive fulldome works.

Location: The programme takes place at CULTVR, offering artists shared access to our facilities.

Activities: Participants attend masterclasses, specialised workshops and receive mentorship from experts in immersive creation. The programme culminates in a public presentation of the works developed during the week.

Dates: From the 16th to the 20th of February 2026.

Fees: Selected artists can attend for free. Participation in this program is free of charge, voluntary and unpaid.

What is the selection criteria?: Artists will be selected based on their complementarity to the group’s knowledge and skills, their artistic portfolio, their artistic and technical expertise in their respective disciplines, and the relevance of their work to the event’s context.