CoSTAR Live Lab champions the future of live human performance and shared experience.

Applicants can apply for between £20,000 and £50,000 to prototype, test, and showcase technology focused on Intelligent Venues. These are adaptive, data-driven environments that sense, interpret, and react in real time, blending spatial audio, lighting, visuals, and interaction design to create truly responsive live experiences.

In addition to cash grants, applicants can apply for up to 20 days of dedicated access to our R&D infrastructure and technical expertise at Production Park.

This call has a total budget of £100,000 and will award between two and five UK-based projects.

Who we are looking for

We seek proposals from consortia led by a UK-based company, including creative technology companies, live events producers, hardware or software developers, and performance innovators.

Projects must clearly demonstrate how their R&D will generate commercial opportunities and explain why access to Live Lab’s facilities, equipment, and expert support is essential to achieving these outcomes. Project results should be tangible and demonstrable, either as early-stage prototypes or proof-of-concept demonstrations.

Areas of interest

Projects should focus on technologies, workflows, or design approaches that enable venues to sense, adapt, and respond in real time to the people and performances within them. We are particularly interested in proposals addressing:

  • Sensor-based tracking, data analytics, or AI-driven control of stage, set, acoustic, audio, visual, or lighting systems.
  • Interactive or personalised experiences that enhance engagement, accessibility, and real-time feedback loops.
  • Intelligent stage management, automation, or modular venue design and production workflows that lower barriers to access and deployment.
  • Scalability or new business models for live or hybrid productions, including streaming or the use of virtual spaces.

Want to find out more? Register for the online Q&A session, Tuesday 16 June 12:00-13:30 BST.

Find out more and apply. Deadline: 21 July 2026.