program
description

We're excited to be opening up two live-in residency spots for emerging artists working at the intersection of art, technology, design, political inquiry, and human connection as a way to sustain our nonprofit and shared space through mutual support.

At School of Machines, Making & Make-Believe, we believe art and technology are not separate disciplines but shared tools for self-reflection, connection, and collective imagination. For over a decade, we've built programs where technical skill and critical, embodied inquiry grow together, where a line of code or a soldered circuit can become a vehicle for asking who we are, how we relate to each other, and what kind of world we want to build.

This residency is for artists who are ready to go deeper. We're looking for people who want dedicated time and space to develop work that combines technical exploration with political, social, or psychological inquiry, work made not just to be seen, but to move people, provoke thought, and be shared.

Over one to three months, you'll live and work in the heart of Berlin, embedded in a community of makers, technologists, and critical thinkers, with the tools, space, and support to turn an idea into a finished, public-facing piece.

what’s included?

• A private room in the heart of Berlin, with your own entryway, elevator access

• Access to our maker space including: cameras, 3D printers, electronics, VR equipment and more

• Weekly one-on-one tech support as needed

• A built-in community of creative humans working across art and technology

• Guidance and critical feedback from the School of MA team as your work develops

• Opportunity to give an artist talk as welcome to the community

• A platform for your final showcase, shared with our network and public audience

• Discounts on workshops and educational opportunities during your stay

• A kitchenette and shared common spaces

what you’ll create

The residency culminates in a public event: a showcase of the work developed during your time here, shared with Berlin's art and tech community. Past showcases have included installations, performances, screenings, and participatory experiences that ask audiences to see differently, feel differently, and question what they thought they knew. However your work takes shape, this is a chance to share your practice with real audiences in a real space.

who is this program for?

This residency is for artists, technologists, designers, researchers, performers, and curious humans who want to use technology as material for inquiry, storytelling, and public art. It is especially for people who:

• want dedicated time and space to develop a body of work from concept to completion

• are interested in artistic, activist, or critical uses of technology

• want to work across disciplines: electronics, code, sculpture, sound, performance, video, VR, and beyond

• are drawn to questions of memory, identity, power, embodiment, ecology, or collective imagination

• want to build technical skills in a hands-on, supported environment

• are looking for a community of practice, not just a studio

No specific technical background is required. What matters is a genuine commitment to using this time to grow your practice and produce meaningful work.

Rachel Uwa
Artist, Educator

Rachel Uwa is an artist, educator, and organiser, who curates the programs of the School of Machines, Making & Make-Believe. Her work explores the intersection of art, technology, political inquiry and human connection, creating spaces where creativity and critical engagement can shape more inclusive technological futures.

Przemek Drewnowski
Tech Specialist

Przemek Drewnowski is a Data scientist working primarily with Deep Learning with a in depth experience of the whole Machine Learning and Big Data ecosystem.