The entirely awesome Tinderbox Collective has announced the return of its Room to Play programme for 2026, inviting a new cohort of emerging artists, coders, and game developers to collaborate on interactive experiences and digital performances.
The initiative, which sits at the intersection of music, technology, and play, is seeking participants aged 18-26 who are at an early stage in their creative careers. The programme culminates in a public exhibition at the Hidden Door Festival, scheduled to take place from 3 to 7 June 2026.
Breaking the Creative Box
Room to Play is designed for creators who do not necessarily fit into traditional roles or silos. Tinderbox is looking for a diverse range of disciplines, including musicians, visual artists, animators, and filmmakers, alongside the coders, creators and game developers who provide the technical backbone for interactive work.
The goal of the programme is to move beyond static art and into the realm of immersive installations. Participants will work together during a structured course to build experiences that the public can step into, interact with, and influence in real time. For the Scottish games community, this represents a unique opportunity to apply game design principles to live performance and physical gallery spaces, proving that the skills used in commercial development are equally transformative in a fine or performing arts context.
A Collaborative Path to Hidden Door
Selected participants will go through a dedicated period of learning and experimentation, gaining hands-on experience with interactive technologies before installing their work at Hidden Door. The festival environment provides a high-profile platform for these emerging creators to showcase their work to a broad audience of arts enthusiasts and industry professionals.
What matters most is a curious and playful spirit, according to the Tinderbox team. The collective is looking for individuals who are keen to learn and excited about the unpredictable nature of working collaboratively across different artistic media. The programme encourages ‘un-boxing’ creativity, allowing participants to explore how sound, light, and code can be woven together into a single, cohesive performance.
‘More Than’ Games
The return of Room to Play aligns perfectly with our More Than Games philosophy, which highlights the enormous potential of the application of games technology across the wider creative and cultural sectors.
The community-led creativity of Tinderbox aims to provide participants with deeper insights into the technical possibilities of game engines and interactive systems. This collaboration seeks to bridge the gap between traditional arts and the digital frontier, ensuring that young Scottish talent has the support needed to build innovative, cross-sectoral careers.
Cultivating New Talent
This initiative supports the broader effort in Scotland to foster a more integrated creative economy. By encouraging game-makers to collaborate with poets, performers, and musicians, the programme helps build the versatile skill sets required for the future of the digital arts. It provides a safe space for experimentation where the focus is on the creative process and the social impact of play, rather than just commercial output.
Applications for the 2026 programme are open now and will close on 27 March. Successful applicants must be available for the course dates, as well as the installation and exhibition window in early June.
Find out more and apply: Tinderbox Collective: Room to Play
Application Form: Room to Play 2026 Entry