XR Sunday Social at A+E Lab
Sunday 29 March, 2026
3:00 to 6:00 pm GMT
A+E Lab
Unit 1, building 64, Main Gate Road, The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, ME4 4TZ, United Kingdom (map)
Connect, Explore and Experience the Future in a Chilled Atmosphere
Screening / AR Demo / Talk / Networking
Time: 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Experience the future of XR (Extended Reality) at XR Sunday Social!
This engaging event brings together artists, innovators, and enthusiasts for an afternoon of connection, exploration, and inspiration. Hear from Max van Leeuwen on his work exploring spatial AR. Immerse yourself in the world of AI algorithms and music with Garin Curtis. And delve into AI filmmaking process with Afro Futcha. Networking opportunities throughout the event provide a chance to connect with the vibrant XR community. No coding or technology experience needed, just a curiosity!
Respect for all attendees is paramount at this event. We aim to create a safe and inclusive space for everyone. Families and children are welcome to attend.
The event is free and no entry ticket to the Historic Dockyard is needed, but booking is required.
As we are at a gated site, we will arrange a meeting point.
Refreshments provided.
Take a look at our first XR Sunday Social took place on 23rd March 2025: https://aelab.uk/project/xrss/
Get in touch for more information: A+E Lab aecreativeworkshops@gmail.com
Booking from here: https://buytickets.at/ae/2080891
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Program:
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm AI Film Screening, AR Demo & XR Networking
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm Talk - AI Filmmaking by Diane Laidlaw
4:40 pm - 5:00 pm Talk - Thinking Machines, Human Hands: Art at the Edge of AI by Garin Curtis
5:10 pm - 5:40 pm Talk - Layering Realities: An Introduction to AR with Spectacles by Max
5:40 pm - 6:00 pm XR Networking
++ Demo & Screening ++
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm AI Film Screening, AR Demo & XR Networking
AI Film by Afro Futcha
Multi-award-winning British AI filmmaker Diane Laidlaw, aka Afro Futcha, screens a collection of her bold, genre-defying short films. Fusing Afrofuturism, Blaxploitation aesthetics, and generative AI, her work challenges how stories are told and who gets to tell them. Provocative, cinematic, and unmissably now.
AR demo by Max van Leeuwen
Digital artist and creative technologist Max van Leeuwen demonstrates his augmented reality work through Snap’s spectacle AR glasses and Snapchat experiences. Explore how AR transforms everyday spaces into interactive creative environments, from playful digital interventions to artistic installations. Experience first-hand how accessible AR tools are reshaping creative practice and storytelling.
++ Creative Tech Talks ++
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm Talk - AI Filmmaking by Diane Laidlaw
Diane Laidlaw shares the creative process behind her AI films from concept to screen. Covering tools, workflows, and the cultural intentions driving her practice, this is an honest, insider conversation about what it means to be a Black woman artist shaping the future of AI storytelling.
4:40 pm - 5:00 pm Talk - Thinking Machines, Human Hands: Art at the Edge of AI by Garin Curtis
What does it mean to build technology that feels alive? Garin Curtis is a London-based creative technologist and AI developer whose practice weaves together machine learning, interactive systems and contemporary art into something genuinely new. Through collaborations with artists including Erika Tan, whose work has been shown at Tate Modern, he explores how AI can be designed not just to process, but to respond, to provoke and to connect. This talk is an invitation to think differently about what artificial intelligence can be when creativity leads the way.
5:10 pm - 5:40 pm Talk - Layering Realities: An Introduction to AR with Spectacles by Max van Leeuwen
Where does the real world end and the digital one begin? Max invites us into the expanding possibilities of Augmented Reality through a showcase of his own creative projects, built with Spectacles and Lens Studio. Part demonstration, part conversation, his talk opens a window into a medium that is reshaping how artists and technologists imagine space, presence and interaction, and shows that you don't need to be a coder to dream in AR.
++ Expand your XR network at XR Sunday Social! ++
5:40 pm - 6:30 pm XR Networking
This is your opportunity to connect with artists, developers, researchers, and enthusiasts in a relaxed and engaging environment. Meet with fellow attendees, discover new collaborators, and expand your professional network, plenty of chances to make valuable connections.
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Artists and speakers' biography
Diane Laidlaw (UK) - AI Filmmaker, Creative Technologist at Afro Futcha
Diane Laidlaw is the creator behind Afro Futcha, a multi‑award‑nominated AI filmmaker and creative technologist pushing the boundaries of what’s possible when AI meets artistic vision. Her work explores culture, technology, and storytelling through an Afrofuturistic lens. She creates award‑winning AI music videos, films, documentaries, and experimental pieces, treating AI as a creative collaborator rather than a shortcut. Diane leads hands‑on GenAI workshops, mentors emerging creators, and speaks at TED events and industry conferences. She is committed to amplifying diverse voices and helping underrepresented filmmakers harness AI confidently and authentically.
https://afrofutcha.com/
Max van Leeuwen (NL) - Digital Artist, Creative Technologist
Max van Leeuwen is a digital artist and creative technologist based in Amsterdam, known for playful and innovative augmented reality experiments and interactive visual effects. His personal AR projects have reached hundreds of millions of views, earning him recognition as a Snap AR Ambassador and a leading creator in the Lens Studio community. Trained at the Netherlands Film Academy with a background in visual effects for film and TV, he now co‑runs the studio Max & Liisi, creating bold AR experiences for artists and brands including Olivia Rodrigo, Alienware, and Snapchat.
https://maxvanleeuwen.com/
Garin Curtis (UK) - Creative Technologist, AI Developer
Garin Curtis is a London-based creative technologist and AI developer working across machine learning, interactive systems and contemporary art. He collaborates with artists and organisations to explore creative and responsible uses of AI, designing tools and installations that make complex technologies accessible and responsive. His work has been presented at events including CVPR, and he has collaborated with artists such as Erika Tan on contemporary work presented at Tate Modern.
https://garincurtis.com/
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This event is supported by Arts Council England, Medway Council through UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries (iCCi) - University of Kent, and Visual Elements