CULTVR Lab announces the return of Catalyst 360º
CULTVR Lab announces the return of Catalyst 360º, the first ever programme of XR residencies delivered here in Wales. Since opening its doors in 2019, CULTVR Lab has played a key role in supporting local and international immersive and digital artists to create and present new artworks. Building on this legacy, the 2025 edition of Catalyst 360º promises to be its most ambitious yet. Following an open call that received over 300 applications from artists, collectives and organisations worldwide, Catalyst 360º will feature 3 immersive residencies, 6 live XR showcases and a 0 barrier of engagement strand.
Supported by Arts Council of Wales, the 2025 season marks a new chapter for Catalyst 360º, continuing to champion immersive storytelling and technological innovation by offering residencies that support the research, development and presentation of innovative projects within CULTVR’s immersive facilities. These residencies will provide both local, national and international artists with the space and resources required to push boundaries in immersive art forms.
In addition to the residencies, six Wales-based artists and organisations have been selected to showcase original XR works in the dome. These live XR presentations will bring cutting-edge projects to the public, encouraging creative dialogue between artists and audiences.
Rooted in Grangetown, CULTVR Lab is committed to making immersive art accessible for all. The 2025 Catalyst 360º programme will offer hands-on workshops, artist talks, open rehearsals, and guided tours. A free Open Day is scheduled for the 26th of July 2025, offering the public across our diverse communities a chance to explore and experience the immersive arts, whilst also having the opportunity to meet the creative teams behind the projects.
The global response to our open call was overwhelming” said Matt Wright, Artistic Director of CULTVR Lab.
“It’s clear there’s an increasing demand for immersive projects, and we’re proud to provide a platform that not only supports artistic innovation but also ensures that local communities are central to the experience.”
The selected projects for the 2025 Catalyst 360º season include:
23rd May: Kitsch & Sync Collective takes over the Lab with an immersive comedy cabaret featuring walkabout characters, pop-up performances, and participatory games.
21st June: MWSOG Collective celebrates the summer solstice with a journey through Welsh land, language, and lore, blending live music, poetry, and 360° visuals to evoke hiraeth.
12th July: Tomos Williams performs Cwmwl Tystion / Witness, blending jazz, Welsh folk, and live visuals to explore Welsh history, identity, and resistance.
26th July: Mark Eaglen showcases Quantum Foam; an audio-visual work driven by audience interaction. Grounded in research across quantum theory, the work explores the spaces in between; ideas of cause and effect across shifting states of scale and time
1st August: Jack Philp’s We Live in an Old Chaos of the Sun. This collaboration between Jack Philp Dance and Uncharted Limbo Collective blends choreography with immersive, realtime digital technology in 360º. In this experience the human body becomes the catalyst for an evolving and responsive digital ecosystem.
8th August: Alma Digital introduces us to Neurocosm, an immersive AV experience using data represented in real-time with A.I and generative art exploring the phases of mindfulness meditation.
15th August: Movement 81 presents an audiovisual experience by Jason&Becky, exploring the science and ethics of emerging technology powered by a custom-built quantum-inspired instrument.
29th August: Gwen Sion performs Atlantis 2050, a multidisciplinary project transforming environmental data into haunting music and immersive visuals, highlighting the impact of rising sea levels and coastal erosion.
19th September: Immersive-me presents Delta, a live experiment in which neural activity shapes the environment in real time. The brain becomes both conductor and canvas.