It’s hard to believe it’s been 12 years since arebyte was first launched in Hackney Wick. Now, the time has come for me to step down as Creative Director and make space for new energy, ideas, and perspectives to lead the artistic programme into its next phase.
arebyte has always been a forward-thinking, dynamic, and independent organisation, making its own path within London’s artistic landscape.
As an 80’s kid, the fascination and appreciation of computers were an integral part of how I see the world and when the idea came to open a space which brings this love to my artistic and curatorial practice, it made sense. It was natural.
When I founded arebyte, digital art was still considered a niche. While many artists had been making pioneering work in this space for decades, and although London has a history of this medium going back to the 1960s, there were only a few spaces in London giving visibility to digitally-born work – galleries and institutions such as Furtherfield and FACT in the UK and Rhizome in the US to name a few – and although we attracted curious and engaged audiences, much of the wider art world showed little interest.
We were called experimental. And we embraced it.
Now, in 2025, the landscape has changed significantly. Digital art is no longer on the fringes – it is being discussed, recognised, and exhibited across the spectrum of the art world. Major institutions are dedicating entire exhibitions to the field, while smaller galleries and project spaces continue to promote its evolution. Digital practices are now taught in schools, academies, and universities; auction houses, commercial galleries, and art fairs actively sell digital works, and immersive installations are being experienced by millions of audiences world-wide. The arena continues to expand, encompassing a broad range of forms and experiences, from immersive installations and NFTs, to artistic video games and interactive artworks, and is steadily gaining mainstream recognition.
I truly believe arebyte played a meaningful role in that shift. Though small in scale, we had the ambition to push forward. We’ve built an international reputation for commissioning and presenting cutting-edge, critical, and ambitious work. We’ve collaborated with pioneering artists, pushed boundaries, and curated exhibitions that took risks and asked crucial questions.
I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved. From humble beginnings as a small project space on the first floor of an artists’ studio complex in East London, we’ve grown into a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England, without ever losing sight of our experimental ethos.
None of this would have been possible without the dedication and support of the many brilliant people who have been part of arebyte’s story: trustees, team members, friends and family, curators, producers, technicians, designers, programmers, workshop leaders, studio managers, producers, tenants, partners, and of course, the audiences, and above all, the artists who entrusted us with their work and ideas. Thank you!
It’s been an honour to work with such an inspiring community, and I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has contributed to what arebyte has become. You’ve all played a role in its success.
arebyte is in the brilliant hands of our Managing Director, Claudel Goy, who’s been shaping its path over the past eight years, guiding it with clarity, vision, and dedication from a small project space to a National Portfolio Organisation. She has been at the heart of arebyte’s growth, building sustainable partnerships and strengthening the organisation ensuring our long-term stability. I know arebyte’s future is in great hands with her leading the way.
Also joining arebyte as the new Head of Programme is Pita Arreola, who will lead on arebyte’s programmes. Pita brings a wealth of experience in the world of Digital arts, from running her own curatorial project Off-Site Project, to recently co-authored Digital Art: 1960s to Now, a publication from the V&A offering a key history of digital art in the UK.
Pita will be joining our small but deeply dedicated team, alongside Laz, who leads our production, Titash who looks after our communications and Barrak, our office manager. Thank you all. I look forward to seeing how the programme evolves and am excited about arebyte’s future.
I will remain close to arebyte and arebyte will remain close to me. I will be joining our wonderful and supportive board of trustees, and continuing to champion the gallery’s mission - to experiment and be curious, to push the boundaries of digital art, and to keep reimagining what art is and what it can become.
With deep gratitude, appreciation, and a sense of awe.
We are byte!
Nimrod