Dreamtime Fellowship 2026
Closing Date: Wed 15 October, 10:00 BST
This is an open-call to Bristol-based practitioners with an interest in making art in the public domain that involves some sort of technology. We’re looking for mid-career artists who are ready to take their practice to its next level. We understand that to mean that you may have shown your work in a few places, you can articulate your practice, you have a growing body of work and a profile to match, and you would benefit from expanding your networks and having support to evolve your practice.
What support is available?
We offer:
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Workspace within Watershed’s Pervasive Media Studio for 12 months from Jan to Dec 2026. This includes free desk space that you can access 7 days a week and bookable meeting rooms, workshop space and a small maker space (with some access to equipment).
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A peer community of other Pervasive Media Studio residents who you can bounce ideas around with and could be potential collaborators for current and future projects.
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Tailored support from Watershed to help you get the most out of your Fellowship, including regular catch ups, discussions and sharing events.
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A £5,500 artist bursary and production budget (tax inclusive). This money can be allocated for materials, tools and your artist fee, as you see fit.
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Three one-to-one mentoring sessions with
Luke Jerramthroughout the year.
We ask for:
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At least 20 days dedicated research and development time at the Pervasive Media Studio.
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Enthusiasm and ambition to grow and develop your practice.
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An open, curious, experimental approach. A willingness to publicly test ideas out and learn from experimental artworks (which may not always go to plan).
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A willingness to contribute to the Pervasive Media Studio community and participate in conversations with peers.
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An informal sharing of ideas and/or learnings towards the end of the residency.
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Some reflection and feedback on your time with us.
You can read about the previous Dreamtime Fellows (previously based at Spike Island) here.
How are we supporting access needs?
Pervasive Media Studio is wheelchair accessible, we have a quiet room and there is ongoing invitation and opportunity to discuss any specific access requirements, throughout your engagement with us.
We have staff team members who are neurodivergent, LGBTQIA+, racially minoritised, disabled, and are from a range of different class backgrounds. Please get in touch if you have similar experiences and want to chat to one of us before making an application.
If you would like to learn more about the space and community, visit the Pervasive Media Studio website or come along to one of our Open Studio Fridays.
Who is this opportunity for?
To apply, you need to:
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Live in and around Bristol (BS postcode area)
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Be aged 18 or over
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Be available to work at the Pervasive Media Studio in person
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Have a practice that you define as mid-career
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Be a practising artist interest in making public realm artwork and uses some sort of technology within your practice
Please note: Undergraduate students or students in full time education are not eligible to apply.
Key Dates:
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Wed 15 Oct – Applications Close
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Fri 24 Oct - Applicants notified
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Tue 4 or Wed 5 Nov – Shortlisted applicant interviews (online or phone)
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Tue 18 Nov - Applicants notified
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Mon 12 Jan – Fri 11 Dec 2026 – Fellowship Period
How do you apply?
To apply you will need to complete an application form using the button below.
Apply for the Dreamtime Fellowship 2026
With the exception of contact details, the application form allows responses in written or audio formats. You’ll be asked:
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For your contact details (Name, Telephone, Email, Postcode)
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To confirm you meet the eligibility criteria by ticking a box
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To respond to the following questions:
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Please provide a short artist biography (250 words or 2 min audio)
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Tell us why would you like to participate in the Dreamtime Fellowship. Why would this opportunity be useful at this point in your development? (100–350 words or up to 3 min audio)
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We’re looking for people who want to make public realm artwork involving some sort of technology. Tell us about something you’ve made, the kinds of things you’re interested in, any technical skills you might have or how you have incorporated technology into your practice. (100–350 words or up to 3 min audio)
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This opportunity includes mentoring with artist Luke Jerram. What would you like mentoring around? What questions might you have for Luke? (100-250 words or 2 min audio)
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Please attach a PDF or provide a web link with 4-6 images of your work with captions.
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Let us know your interview date preference (4 Nov, 5 Nov, or no preference).
The form doesn’t have a save function, so we recommend prepping your answers first, then pasting them in. Don’t worry if you're slightly over or under the word/time counts.
What happens when I’ve submitted my application?
You should receive an auto-response from us confirming we have received your application.
After the closing date/time passes, the submitted application forms will be shortlisted by a panel using the criteria outlined below. The shortlist will be invited to attend an online or phone interview which will be around 30 minutes in length. Questions will be sent in advance.
One recipient will be selected from interviews.
If you have any access requirements that means the form or online/phone interviews do not work for you, please contact us at any point on: talentdevelopment@watershed.co.uk
What is the assessment criteria?
When assessing eligible applications, we will score each one against the following questions:
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Does the person applying clearly articulate their practice and area/s of interest?
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Does the person applying show commitment to and skills in making public realm artwork?
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Does the person applying show skills in making work that involves technology?
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Does the person applying demonstrate that their practice is mid career?
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Will this Fellowship make a difference to the person applying?
How can you get in touch with any comments, questions, or thoughts?
We look forward to hearing from you and if you have any questions or queries you can:
Drop us a line on talentdevelopment@watershed.co.uk
Join us at an Open Studio Friday
About Pervasive Media Studio
The Pervasive Media Studio hosts a brilliant community of over 200 artists, creative companies, technologists and academics exploring experience design and creative technology. It is a collaboration between Watershed, University of Bristol and UWE Bristol. Our projects can be cultural or commercial and span play, robotics, location-based media, food, connected objects, interactive documentary and new forms of performance. We test our projects as early as possible and iterate.
We are based within Watershed on Bristol's historic dockside. We have an open plan Studio with a culture of generosity, curiosity and interuptability. We believe that by bringing people together from a broad range of backgrounds, skills, experiences and opinions, all of our ideas get better.
About Luke Jerram and the Jerram Foundation
Luke Jerram’s multidisciplinary practice involves the creation of sculptures, installations and live arts projects. Living in the Bristol but working internationally since 1997, Jerram has created a number of extraordinary art projects which have excited and inspired people around the globe. Since his career began Luke Jerram has had over 900 exhibitions around the world.
With many of his artworks in permanent collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Wellcome Collection in London, he also tours his art installations to art festivals and museums worldwide.
Having had a workspace at Watershed early in his career, he moved on to set up his own studio at Paintworks. Now an established artist, he’s keen to support the next generation of artists in Bristol through his newly created Jerram Foundation.
Closing Date: Wed 15 October, 10:00 BST
Undershed Gallery General Assistant
Closing Date: Wed 7 January, 17:00 GMT 2026
On this page
Applications
Please apply online, or alternatively, download the application form in Word and email it to hr@watershed.co.uk.
Do get in touch if you would like any of this information, or wish to apply, in another format.
Please do not include your CV as it will not be considered. Please put all relevant information on your application form.
Job description
- Position
- Undershed Gallery General Assistant
- Grade
- Assistant
- Rate
- £12.60 per hour
- Hours
- Part time.
- Contract type
- Fixed Term (12 weeks)
- Responsible to
- Front of House Manager
- Location
- In the building. This post is not suitable for remote working.
Purpose of job
The Undershed Gallery General Assistant will support the day-to-day operations of the gallery’s incoming exhibition, The Everyworld - an installation, exhibition and celebration of collaboration between a father, a daughter, Andrew and Eden Kötting, and an ever-expanding family of cooperation.
This role combines visitor engagement, technical support, and curatorial assistance to ensure a smooth and accessible experience for all Undershed visitors.
The Assistant should monitor the Undershed gallery space with particular regard to the safety, comfort and positive experience of visitors, including taking the lead in the event of an emergency evacuation.
Main responsibilities
- Set up, calibrate and maintain equipment including VR headsets, inflatables, and AV systems
- Ensure the Undershed equipment and space is always tidy and ready for use, and between sessions/ uses
- Safeguard artworks, caretaking, and reset the space when any items that can be interacted with are moved/used
- Ensure the space is clean, tidy and represents Undershed and the artists as intended
- Provide effective, efficient and engaged customer care for visitors attending the exhibition space
- Welcome visitors, checking their bookings, and scheduling in slots
- Provide background to the artwork with curatorial context, answering questions, and providing further detail and any handouts/ materials, including any content warnings
- Assist visitors during an exhibition to familiarise them with the technology (VR headsets) provided and educate them on the use of the technology
- Show visitors how to customise the brightness and volume of headsets to meet their individual requirements or access needs
- Provide any additional access resources that are made available as required
- Guide visitors through the experience and talk to them about the work they have viewed, providing support and holding space for their responses
- Support visitors to offboard, engaging with them and guiding them around the rest of the exhibition
- Gather and collate any data around visitor flow, safety and equipment use
- Progress any concerns, or suggestions to senior support staff, guarding visitor welfare throughout, and being proactive about ways in which to improve the experience
- Provide support at General Assistant level in other areas of the business as may be required
- Contribute to the smooth running of Watershed’s business operation by communicating and co-operating effectively and courteously with visitors and staff in all areas of the building, taking a proactive approach
- Participate in staff meetings and training and development opportunities as required
- Actively support, encourage and have an awareness of general Watershed activities
- Adhere to all Watershed policies, practices and procedures
Health & Safety
- Ensure safety guidelines are complied with, under advice from the Duty Manager, and act as Fire Officer for Undershed spaces following an evacuation procedure
- Attend a fire drill to stay up to date with current evacuation procedure and practice various scenarios with other operational staff
- Comply with and maintain health, safety and hygiene standards within all public and catering areas
Key performance indicators
- Be enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the artwork and keen to engage with visitors
- Troubleshoot issues quickly and calmly and escalate any concerns or suggestions in good time to senior staff
- Be reliably punctual and available for visitors before, during and after sessions
- Deliver the highest standard of customer care to staff and visitors at all times
- Be flexible in relation to additional shifts
- Take a proactive approach to maintaining the cleanliness and appearance of the gallery and welcome area
- Ensure a comfortable and welcoming environment and that gallery guidelines are adhered to
- Cooperate and communicate effectively with all visitors and staff
- Ensure a safe and healthy work environment in compliance with safety guidelines
- Be able to represent Watershed’s Vision and Values through their work
- Be a team player and an advocate for Watershed
- Complete tasks to agreed standard with minimal supervision
- Complies with and maintains health and hygiene standards in all areas
Essential criteria
- Experience working with, and a passion for, mixed-reality including VR in an arts context
- Basic knowledge of MR/VR systems with the ability to troubleshoot quickly and calmly
- An approachable, kind and confident manner with visitors and staff
- Good organisation, multi-tasking, and communication skills
- Flexibility in relation to additional shifts
Application process
Closing date:
Please note: this is a fixed term, 12 week contract with a preferred start date of Thu 15 Jan - although start date can be negotiated.
We will be holding interviews at Watershed on the below date.
First round interview / presentation (if relevant): -
Working at Watershed
Find out more about staff benefits, our values and more about our approach.
Access
Watershed will work with candidates to ensure their access needs are met during the interview process and will ensure access requirements are not a factor in decision making.
Equal opportunities monitoring
We are striving to understand more about who applies to work with us. At the end of the application process we invite you to complete our anonymous equal opportunities monitoring form, which will not be shared with anyone involved in the recruitment process.
Opening hours
At full operation, Watershed is open seven days a week, including Bank Holidays (Christmas Day and Boxing Day are the only exceptions). Watershed is a public building, which operates a diverse range of cultural and commercial activities. The post holder will need to be comfortable working in this environment.
Before you apply
Watershed's first value is Inclusive – We listen to and learn from our community, creating equity and addressing harm where it occurs. The information below lays out some of the steps we are taking to create a more inclusive recruitment process. Many of these steps are new to us, so feedback and questions are very welcome.
You may not have worked in a cultural organisation before, or in an organisation like Watershed. Please still consider applying as many other sectors offer transferable contexts.
If you are from a background that is underrepresented in the culture sector - for example you are from a community that experiences racism or you are a disabled person (as defined by the Equalities Act 2010), or you did not go to University or had free school meals as a child - and you would like support to articulate how your experience is transferable to this role, you can book time with us to discuss it. We will ensure the person you meet is not involved in the recruitment process. Please request this by emailing hr@watershed.co.uk (we will not ask you to disclose your background).
We believe our work will be stronger with greater diversity and welcome applications from those who bring balance to our team. Watershed welcomes the whole person to work, and we understand that each of us brings our experiences, our backgrounds and our own unique lens to what we do. Supporting our staff means they are not appointed to represent specific groups or organisations.
Watershed Values
As a registered charity and social enterprise, Watershed has well-established brand values. We seek to apply our values in everything we do and ask staff, partners, suppliers and collaborators to do the same.
Our values are:
- InclusiveWe listen to and learn from our community, creating equity and addressing harm where it occurs
- TransparentWe share our approach openly and clearly, working at a pace which enables everyone to participate who wishes to
- ResponsibleWe use our resources generously and sustainably, considering our impact on future generations
- KindWe are careful and caring with ourselves and with others
- HopefulWe celebrate culture, creativity and wonder as paths to a better future
Watershed is a Social Enterprise Mark holder. Social Enterprises are businesses whose products and services create both social and environmental benefits.
Closing Date: Wed 7 January, 17:00 GMT 2026