Experimental Performance with Machines
Bootcamp for COMPUTALA 26 led by Leonie Dubarry-Gurr
New Media Art Club’s sixth artist bootcamp residency took place in January 2026 as a three-day intensive programme for practising artists exploring AI and computer interaction in performance. The bootcamp formed part of the COMPUTALA exhibition programme at LCB Depot in Leicester.
Participants Tengjin Bian, Marlon Foster, Tilly Hawkins and Kiera Sanderson came together working across spoken word, movement, sound, music, and live visuals. Over three days, participants took part in structured workshops, collaborative experiments, and peer exchange. The focus was on using AI in a playful and exploratory way, with an emphasis on liveness, presence, and improvisation rather than technical mastery.
The programme was led by Leonie Dubarry-Gurr, who guided participants through a series of hands-on sessions examining how human–machine interaction can shape performance. No specialist coding knowledge was required, and the tools introduced were free, open source, or browser-based.
The residency ran from 22–24 January 2026 at New Media Art Club’s studio at LCB Depot. Participants worked on developing new ideas and approaches within a supported environment, with access to equipment, space, and mentorship. Each artist received a £700 fee to present work developed during the bootcamp.
The programme culminated in performances at the Ceremony × COMPUTALA Closing Party on 30 January 2026, where participants shared outcomes ranging from live audiovisual sets to experimental performance pieces. These works reflected a range of approaches to AI, from subtle augmentation of existing practices to more direct exploration of machine-driven interaction.
The bootcamp focused on artists based in Leicester and the East Midlands, contributing to ongoing efforts to support local digital art practices and build a more connected regional community around emerging media.