(Algo|Afro) Futures was a mentoring programme for early career UK-based Black artists interested in exploring creative coding and live coding. The programme ran over four editions between 2021 - 2025. The website is being kept online as an archive of its activities and as a resource for those interested in forming a similar programme of their own.
Live coding is a performative practice where artists and musicians use code to create live music and live visuals. This is often done at electronic dance music events called Algoraves, but live coding is a technique rather than a genre, and has also been applied to noise music, choreography, live cinema, and many other time-based artforms.
Since its inception in 2014 there have been hundreds of Algoraves taking place in over 100 cities and festivals around the world, including performances at Glastonbury, Sonar, SXSW, Bluedot, Mutek and Transmediale. There have been many events in Birmingham including audio/visual focussed parties at Vivid projects in Digbeth.
Programme overview
(Algo|Afro) Futures took place between June - August at Vivid Projects in Birmingham. It consisted of five workshops focusing on live coding music and visuals. The workshops focused on TidalCycles from 2021 - 2022 and Strudel in 2023 and 2025. For visuals participants learnt Hydra.
At the conclusion of the programme each participant was given the opporunity to showcase their newly-aqcuired skills in a performance of up to 15 minutes in front of a live audience. You can view documentation and recordings of each edition of the programme by following the links below:
The programme was led and delivered by Antonio Roberts, with guest mentors joining on each programme. Read more about them in the About page.
Key information
- The call is open from Thursday 10th April to Monday 5th May 23:59 BST
- Up to six applicants will be selected to take part
- Each participant is supported by an access bursary of up to £500
- This opportunity is open to UK-based Black artists only
- Exact workshop and performance dates are available on the 2025 Mentoring Programme page.
Questions?
For any queries please first check the FAQ page or contact us.
