Inclusive creativity takes centre stage at CoSTAR Screen Lab during RENDR Festival

Artists, technologists, researchers and entrepreneurs came together at Studio Ulster this week for a landmark concert and international symposium exploring the relationship between inclusive creative practice and emerging technologies, delivered as part of the RENDR Festival.

The two-day programme, in collaboration with Ulster University, Future Screens NI, Studio Ulster and CoSTAR Screen Lab, placed accessibility, experimentation and collaboration at the heart of creative innovation.

The programme opened on 11 February with an evening concert in the CoSTAR Screen Lab, showcasing the creative possibilities of combining live performance with advanced virtual production technologies. A highlight of the concert was the first performance of a new version of Zoom Time, with music by Professor Frank Lyons and visuals by Professor Paul Moore, performed by an ensemble of musicians from Hard Rain, Acoustronic and Elefantora, alongside an orchestral soundtrack.

The concert also celebrated the 90th birthday year of pioneering composer Steve Reich, with performances including Vermont Counterpoint, Clapping Music and Reich Remix, alongside sonic and visual improvisations using acoustic and digital instruments. Together, the works demonstrated how technology can open up new forms of expression and participation for performers and audiences alike.

The concert was followed on 12 February by the Inclusive Creativity Symposium, which brought together artists, academics and practitioners from across the UK and Europe to examine how creative technologies can support more inclusive ways of making, sharing and experiencing art.

The symposium was launched by Oscar-winning actor Dr James Martin MBE and featured contributions from speakers including Professor Lizbeth Goodman (SMARTlab), Sophia Alexandersson (Share Music, Sweden), Professor Andrew Kotting, and representatives from disability-led creative initiatives and research organisations.

Professor Frank Lyons, Co-Director of CoSTAR Screen Lab, who led the programme, said:

“The concert and symposium were about possibility — about what becomes achievable when inclusive practice is embedded from the very beginning of the creative process. Studio Ulster allowed us to explore new relationships between sound, image, performance and technology, while keeping collaboration and accessibility at the centre of the work.”

Professor Paul Moore, Director of Future Screens NI and Co-Director of CoSTAR Screen Lab said:

“What interested me most about this work was how technology could be used to support collaboration. By combining live performance with virtual production, we were able to create visual environments that respond to the musicians and open up new creative possibilities, while remaining grounded in accessibility and shared experience.”

Karen Fleming, Co-Director of CoSTAR Screen Lab, added:

“Inclusive creativity is fundamental to the future of the creative industries. Events like this show how technology can be a powerful enabler when it’s designed with people, access and collaboration in mind. It’s exciting to see this happening through live performance as well as research.”

The concert and symposium is part of a wider programme of events for the 2026 RENDR Festival, an evening event hosted at Banana Block which celebrates creative craft and artistry in a fully immersive two-day festival exploring the space between Creativity and Technology.

Find out more at: www.rendrfestival.com