Future Art Ecosystems R&D Fellowship: Art x Convergence

Serpentine Arts Technologies is launching the inaugural Future Art Ecosystems (FAE) R&D Fellowship: Art x Convergence — a six-month, low-residency programme supporting individual practitioners and collectives working at the intersection of art and advanced technologies.

Running from September 2026 to March 2027, the Fellowship brings together four practitioners to explore the theme of Art x Convergence: an invitation to investigate how AI is reshaping cultural, social, legal, ecological, and institutional systems. The theme points to a condition of convergence — where previously separate systems become so entangled that their original boundaries are difficult to assert — and asks what artistic research and creative practice can contribute to navigating and complicating these zones.

Who can apply?

Applications are welcome from artists, curators, technologists, producers, organisers, writers, and researchers whose practice engages with art and advanced technologies. Collectives may also apply. International applicants are welcome, provided they can attend three in-person weekend intensives in London (September 2026, November 2026, and March 2027).

What does the Fellowship support?

The FAE Fellowship is focused on research and development, not finished outcomes. It is a space for developing or refining a research question, testing methods and approaches, working through conceptual or technical challenges, and building relationships across art, technology, and adjacent fields. Fellows will document their process and share it publicly, but the emphasis is on experimentation and inquiry rather than polished production.

What support do fellows receive?

• £10,000 fellowship award
• Travel and accommodation support for the three London weekends
• One-to-one mentorship from a Lead Mentor throughout the programme
• Access to specialist workshops, seminars, and advisors
• Peer learning and cohort exchange with the other three fellows
• Regular online cohort sessions (approximately 3.5 hours per week of structured online participation)
• Ongoing support from the FAE and Arts Technologies teams

Programme structure:

The Fellowship is hybrid and low-residency, combining fortnightly online cohort sessions, monthly one-to-one mentor meetings, and three in-person weekend gatherings in London. Applicants should be able to commit to the full programme from September 2026 through March 2027.

Selection process:

Applications close at midnight BST on 7 June 2026. The Serpentine Arts Tech team will shortlist ten candidates for interviews in June, followed by a second selection round involving an external jury.

For more information or to attend an online info session on 22 May 2026, visit futureartecosystems.org. Apply via the online form linked on the Serpentine website.