British Underground’s award-winning Future Art and Culture programme premieres four projects that explore empathy and connection at SXSW 2026
Future Art and Culture (FAC) is a major UK showcasing and networking initiative that focuses on the intersection of art and technology curated and produced by British Underground with funding from
Arts Council England and additional support from British Council.
Explore the Future Art and Culture 2026 programme below and view the official press release here.
Artwork: Office of Craig
Future Art and Culture 2026 presents four AI and immersive creative projects that will premiere at SXSW® in Austin, focusing on the possibilities of developing technologies harnessed to support empathy, deepen human connection and navigate how we interact in an increasingly polarised world. Each work offers different ideas about what it means to be human and have agency as AI and technology impact on our daily lives, from menopause to surveillance.
ΩThe programme also includes three panels that explore using XR to connect to the body, public and national libraries as launchpads for emerging tech, and the strength of business models in the interactive/immersive sector.
Future Art and Culture is also taking over UK House at Palm Door on Sixth from 2pm on Tuesday 17 March.
Sessions will ask: who gets to build immersive worlds; whose stories are embedded within them, and how can international cultural infrastructure support an equitable global XR landscape? These three sessions will be followed by the UK XR Takeover Party, bringing together international immersive, film and music delegates to connect, network and collaborate alongside incredible live music from breakthrough UK acts Karma Sheen and Amy Gadiaga.
Embedded in FAC is Future Art and Culture Connect, where British Underground and multicultural creative champion
B3 Media annually support a cohort of emerging artists to attend SXSW.
UK House Takeover
Session 1 : Accessing XR
Session 2: Distributing XR
Session 3: Globalising XR
followed by
UK XR Takeover Party
with live music from
Amy Gadiaga and Karma Sheen
The Baby Factory Is Closed Deepa Mann-Kler (Director) Eva Robinson(Producer)
Lost Love Hotline Nikki Harman (Director/Producer)
Ascended Intelligence Karen Palmer (Director) Diana Knarr (Producer)
Ascended Intelligence Karen Palmer (Director) Diana Knarr (Producer)
Ascended Intelligence Karen Palmer (Director) Diana Knarr (Producer)
The Baby Factory is Closed (TBFIC) Deepa Mann-Kler (Director) Eva Robinson(Producer)
Ascended Intelligence Karen Palmer (Director) Diana Knarr (Producer)
Loss:y Lisa Jamhoury (Director) Maia Sauer (Producer)
Karma Sheen (live) UK XR Takeover Party
Amy Gadiaga (live) UK XR Takeover Party
FAC CONNECT participants
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Beining (Rosie) Chen
Artist and creative technologist
Designer, developer, creative storyteller. Works at the intersection of XR, interaction design and narrative games.
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Elijah Maja
Artist and researcher (sound and moving image)
British-Nigerian artist and researcher. Works across sound, still and moving image. Explores African diasporic technology, memory and everyday life.
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Esme Allman
Poet, writer and theatre-maker
Works across poetry, theatre, movement and film. Explores Blackness, desire and imagined worlds.
“As we enter a new frontier, showcasing artists at the intersection of art and future technology help us reflect the ‘now’ as as well as venture towards our creative and technological potential.”
– Almass Badat, Producer at British Underground
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What is Future Art and Culture?
Future Art and Culture (FAC) is a major UK showcasing and networking initiative that focuses on the intersection of art and technology curated and produced by British Underground, with funding from Arts Council England and additional support from British Council.
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What is SXSW?
SXSW is a gathering of global professionals featuring sessions, panel, music and comedy showcases, film and television screenings, world-class exhibitions, professional development and networking opportunities, tech competitions, awards ceremonies, and much more.
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What do BU do?
Through Future Art and Culture, British Underground brings the UK’s top creative minds to SXSW’s world-leading interactive festival.
Our expertise, developed over many years working in complex, large-scale international activations across the arts and creative industries, allows us to deliver high-profile events that provide unparalleled exposure for UK artists.
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When does it happen?
Future Art and Culture takes place in Austin, Texas in March.
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Who has participated from the UK?
Projects that exhibited as part of Future Art and Culture including Karen Palmer’s Consensus Gentium won 3 major awards, and the programme saw more success with Adam Cole’s Kiss/Crash as the winner of the XR Audience award, Hatsumi’s Soul Paint winning the SXSW XR Experience award and most recently Beatie Wolfe’s Smoke and Mirrors winning the Prix Ars Electronica’s “Golden Nica” award.
As part of the Future Art and Culture programme, British Underground has collaborated with multicultural creative champion B3 Media to support four emerging artists at SXSW and this panel explores their work and ambitions for the future. -
How do I apply?
Whether you're an artist, production studio or industry professional, you can apply to exhibit a piece of work or host a panel at SXSW.
Keep up to date via SXSW’s application portal.
The Future Art and Culture podcast
British Underground the Future Art and Culture podcast, a conversational gateway into the world where tech, art and culture meet.
The series is hosted by Crispin Parry and Almass Badat and is available to listen to now:
EP 1 Art + VR
features Luke Ritchie, Chief of Strategic Partnerships at Reactional Music and Creative Technology Advisor at San Francisco Symphony.
Read more
EP 2 Art + AI
features Karen Palmer, AI Thought Leader, XR award-winning Artist and storyteller from the future.
Read more
EP 3 Art + Quantum Computing features Harry Kumar, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer (CCO) of Moth, with a background in the arts, philosophy, and mathematics.
Read more
Explore our current projects
