Animate Projects invites expressions of interest from early career animation artists to take part in our development programme, Transparent, working in collaboration with the Open Data Institute (ODI).

Animate Projects invites expressions of interest from early career animation artists to take part in our development programme, Transparent.

We are pleased to be working in collaboration with our Industry partner, the Open Data Institute (ODI), a non-profit company that aims to build a world where data works for everyone.

Founded in 2012 by Sir Tim Berners-Lee and Sir Nigel Shadbolt, their mission is to create an open, trustworthy data ecosystem on which AI systems and other technologies can depend.

We will work with three early career artists as they undertake a period of research to develop a film related to the research of the ODI.

This will be guided by conversations with ODI researchers, as well as curatorial support from Hannah Redler-Hawes, Director of Data as Culture, the art programme at the ODI. A one-to-one briefing or ‘data exploration’ meeting with ODI CEO Louise Burke will also be offered to selected artists.

The artists will be supported to produce short, animated, single-screen films. Our partner, Fonic, will support the sound design and sound mix. The films will be shared at a public event, online and on social media in 2027.

There is a £4,000 fee for each artist to cover production costs and fees. Additional travel expenses, audio post, and deliverables creation will be covered by Animate Projects.

At this stage we are requesting expressions of interest, considering an area of data and transparency you would be interested in exploring and what your creative approach might be.

We encourage you to consider experimentation, learning, and creative risk-taking. We expect you to factor in environmental sustainability as part of your process. Related subjects, themes, and experience that you might consider include:

• reflection on the ambitions of the Solid project at ODI
• the need for transparency in how our data is accessed, recorded, and exploited
• ethical considerations around data protection
• questions around trust and sharing data in an ever-evolving online world
• what it means to be in control of your data
• what a diverse, equitable and inclusive data ecosystem might look like
• the work and research of Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web, HTML, the URL system, and HTTP

Transparent is the fourth round of Animate’s early career development programme that is supported by Arts Council England. Take a look at our previous projects: Mortal, PLANTING and Roam.

Image: Constant Washing Machine by Blast Theory, launch event. Photo: Melanie Pollard. Constant Washing Machine is commissioned by Data as Culture at the ODI as part of the University of Sheffield FRAIM project, funded as part of the Bridging Responsible AI Divides programme under UK Research and Innovation, Arts and Humanities Research Council

What are we looking for?

We are looking for artists who make visually strong, experimental animation, and are interested in engaging with the theme and with our partner.

We want to commission distinct and varied approaches. We’re interested in digital, analogue, and/or hybrid animation techniques.

Whilst the work might have a documentary element, we are not looking for straightforward documentaries, explainers, promotional or campaign films.

We ask that you consider sustainability in your production process. Check out Cardiff Animation Festival’s Planet Positive initiative, with information and resources about what the animation industry can do to fight the climate crisis.

We expect the artists to document their development and process, and share their experience with each other, and to take part in a public presentation of the project.

Timeline

• 5 May 2026 – Call for Artists goes live
• 15 May 2026 - 11-11:30 am, video briefing session about the project on Zoom (please sign up here)
• 10 June 2026 - deadline for submissions at noon
• 30 June 2026 - inform artists of the result of their application
• July 2026 - initial online meeting with Animate, ODI and artists
• July - August 2026 – R&D, treatments submitted, pre-production
• September 2026 – January 2027 - production
• February – March 2027 – post-production, delivery
• April - July 2027 - live launch event, films shared online, online talk

There will be curatorial and practical support from the Animate team with regular online meetings. Throughout the project period, we will schedule online individual mentoring meetings with each artist, and group peer review sessions.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to early career artists with:

• An experimental animation practice
• An interest in exploring a theme related to ODI research and activities
• A willingness to engage with the partner, be part of the project community, and share their experience in person and online
• Evidence of residency in England and the right to work in the UK

Please note: Students undertaking any type of formal education on 1 July 2026 are not eligible to apply.

You may apply for this opportunity if you previously applied to ‘PLANTING’, ‘Mortal’ and/or ‘Roam’ and were unsuccessful. Applications from artists that we have previously commissioned will not be considered.

This opportunity is for early career artists at a critical moment in developing their artistic practice, with curatorial and practical support from the Animate team.

We define “early career”, as artists who have gone some way to establishing their practice, and who have had some public showcasing experience, but who are still in the early stages of a career.

We recognise that an artist who has been practising for several years, with breaks for personal reasons, may still be considered ‘early career’.

How to apply

Please read these guidelines and submit your application through CuratorSpace.

We ask you to provide: 

• brief statements:
  • about your artistic practice and relevant experience
  • about why you are interested in the ODI’s and Data as Culture’s work, and what approach you would take to participating in the programme, including what theme or subject you would be interested in exploring, and why
  • a short statement on how you would consider sustainability in participating in this programme
• Links to relevant examples of previous work (maximum of three previous works)

We also ask you to please fill in our Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form before finalising your submission.

If you would prefer to record a 2-3 minute video or voice memo rather than send a cover letter, please send a link to the video on Google Drive or Vimeo or another platform.

The deadline for submission is at noon, Thursday 10 June 2026.

If you have any questions, please contact us through CuratorSpace. We expect to inform applicants of our decision by 30 June 2026. We will notify all candidates who have not been shortlisted for interview, but we are unable to offer detailed feedback.

We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from individuals from low-income backgrounds, those who are ethnically diverse or disabled, and anyone else who considers themselves under-represented within the visual arts.

If you have any access needs or barriers to access that you would like to discuss, please do not hesitate to let us know either before applying or as part of your application by messaging us through the ''Contact curator' tab.

Open Data Institute

The ODI was founded by Sir Tim Berners-Lee and Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt in 2012 with the main aim of making a world where data works for everyone.

Exploring the meaning of data trust and sharing, and by default notions of transparency and privacy, is central to the organisation's mission.

As technologies have evolved notions of openness and transparency continue to develop, which our policy-informing research and technological teams are continually responding to.

We’re excited about the opportunity to invite artists to reflect on these concerns with us through our Data as Culture programme in collaboration with Animate Projects.

https://theodi.org/
https://theodi.org/insights/tools/the-data-spectrum/
https://www.inrupt.com/solid
https://culture.theodi.org/
https://theodi.hacdn.io/media/documents/The_ODI_in_2025_-_Annual_Review.pdf

Hannah Redler Hawes – ODI Associate: Director of Data as Culture

Hannah Redler-Hawes is a UK-based curator and producer of international arts-led projects specialising in digital, immersive and art and technology / art and science collaborations.

A pioneer in the field of interdisciplinary and digital curating, Hannah is recognised for her strong understanding of audiences. She convenes outstanding artists, scientists and organisations to curate award-winning new artworks, exhibitions, programmes, research projects and events with and for diverse publics.

Animate Projects

Animate supports artists to experiment, collaborate and produce bold animation projects. Animate was established in 2007 and is based in Derby. We are an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.

https://animateprojects.org