Alpaca is the festival of algorithmic patterns, showcasing pattern-based work across music, textiles, dance and more.
Patterns are a kind of heritage algorithm, and so we will showcase both heritage and digital arts and crafts together. Despite the inclusion of contemporary digital arts, our focus will be fully on hands-on, human creativity and not artificial intelligence.
The event will showcase work across disciplines, e.g. weaving, braiding, juggling, live/creative coding, algorithmic music, algorithmic choreography, modular origami and more. It will feature talks, workshops, concerts and an algorave, all exploring how we can explore beyond our imaginations through pattern-making.
Key information
Please join our mailing list for key updates.
The call for conference talks, performances and workshops is now open.
The event will take place in two parts:
- 12-14th September 2025 – in-person festival in Sheffield
- 19-20th September 2025 – on-line
- for this second on-line part, ‘watch parties’ are planned in Berlin and Sheffield – please get in contact if you’re interested in hosting one!
Team
Organising committee
- Alex McLean
- Anu Reddy
- Dave Griffiths
- Iván Paz
- Laura Devendorf
- Lizzie Wilson
- Lucy Cheesman
- Ray Morrison
- Vernelle A. A. Noel
Review committee
Contact
If you have questions, please do get in contact by emailing Alex McLean at alex@thentrythis.org.
For occasional news and updates, please join our mailing list.
You can connect with the wider community via the Algorithmic Pattern online forum.