Art and Technology

Our work in Art and Technology supports artist‑led innovation that reimagines, interrogates, and creates new technologies. We work in partnership with global cultural organisations, individuals and businesses to develop connections and nurture trust.

Collage composite image showing lots of small fragments of different images, arranged in squares of different sizes in a patchwork style pattern. The images are of a variety of things, including mannequins performing acrobatic feats, flowers, line drawings of the world map, TV screens and architecture.
Collage of artwork by Libby Heaney in Why technology needs artists, Daniela Rivillas © British Council 2025

Our work in Art and Technology

Art and Technology is one of the fastest and most exciting areas in the cultural and creative economy. Our work supports artist-led innovation and the global ecosystems that enable their work. 

Our starting point is that artists are not just beneficiaries of technology—they are innovators who test its limits, challenge its biases, and expose its flaws in ways that deepen trust, prioritise sustainability, and foreground diversity. 

We champion the UK sector and build connections with international artists, studios, cultural institutions, creative and technology companies, activists, festivals, heritage organisations, and academia.

Research, policy, and advocacy are central to our work in Art and Technology. Through our series of research and reports, we advocate for the arts sector as a catalyst for innovation, building on evidence that international artist-led innovation contributes to more diverse, representative, and resilient societies.

A satellite hovers in space with the Earth visible below to the left of the frame. On the satellite is a screen with the word 'HELLO' written on it. Flower City in the Sky, 2024, Hao Ruichang, Xu Bing Space Art Residency Program, © Xu Bing Studio

Why Technology Needs Artists

Artists reimagine what technologies can be, and who they can be for, in this global report.

Artist Innovation Commissions

Our artist innovation commissions support world-leading projects in technical Research and Development, and engage the global public with technology in imaginative and critical ways.

Resources

Explore our latest research, policy, and advocacy resources, including a series of international Art and Technology sector maps.