BRiGHTBLACK

BRiGHTBLACK is the collaborative company of artists Simon Wilkinson and Myra Appannah. Their work spans immersive art, playable culture, virtual reality, fashion, video games, artificial intelligence, and music, with a core belief that culture is a global conversation that should invite participation. Known for creating installation and performance-based works that aim to disrupt, democratise, and decolonise, they focus on engaging audiences who are often excluded from traditional cultural spaces. Their work has featured at Tate Modern and toured to 36 countries across six continents, earning acclaim such as “one of the most influential UK immersive productions of the last 20 years” (UK Innovation & Research Council) and they have been named “one of the most notable names in Europe to be dealing with VR” (Cineuropa Magazine). Since 2010, they have developed 32 VR games and installations and, alongside Penrose Tackie, founded BRiGHTBLACK Games to create long-form narrative video games. They are also the creators of Immersive StoryLab, a professional development programme in immersive and playable culture that has run 47 editions in 17 countries, with partners including the British Council, the National Gallery (UK), Brisbane Powerhouse (Australia) and hundres of grassroots organisations. In 2024, they launched Electric Dreaming Lab with Cambridge University’s Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence, exploring philosophies, ethics, politics, economics, strategies and practical skills for AI in the creative industries, arts and culture.