arebyte 2026 - 2028 Programme

Looking inwards, our 2023-2026 Programme The Body, The Mind and The Soul surveyed the status quo of humans influenced by technological growth. For the following two years, REBOOT: Recoding Reality (2026–2028) inverts and advances this conversation to reimagine more equitable worlds where humans have agency over technology and outwardly connect with and care for their environments.

Humanity is heading towards planetary collapse, with social, political, economic and ecological crises arising across the globe. Scenarios of dystopian futures are increasingly materialising. The images and information we consume online today make us more prone to ‘imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism’. In times like these, how can people reorganise into more sustainable ways of living? What can humans learn from different ways of existing? How can individuals achieve technological agency? 

The programme addresses these issues and proposes new methodologies to navigate the world, showcasing the work of digital artists and thinkers who are building decentralised technological tools, approaching ecology through a planetary perspective and seeking wisdom from cross-cultural heritage. Rather than fixating on the damage done by capitalism, REBOOT: Recoding Reality invites audiences to imagine alternative lifestyles where people can exist on better terms within their natural and technological contexts.

The programme aims to inject London’s (and beyond) cultural scene with positive perspectives, building on Camden’s rich cultural heritage and drawing inspiration from the former Institute for Research in Art and Technology (also known as the New Arts Lab in Robert Street, 1969–71). In doing so, it reframes arebyte as an incubator and catalyst for creativity, experimentation and community engagement within the field of digital arts.

The artists and creatives featured in the programme are at different stages in their careers, from internationally recognised practitioners to emerging talent working across digital art, immersive experiences, and experimental technologies. This configuration enables visitors to encounter a rich variety of artistic approaches and perspectives that reflect the diversity and innovation of the field.

The programme is designed to engage with a wide range of audiences, including established artists, curators and researchers; early-career creatives and art students; and members of the public who are curious and enthusiastic about art and technology.