When the Future Comes is a 30 year artist-led project that takes place across England - in Oxfordshire, Nottingham, Cumbria, Somerset and London. Future Machine, a mysterious interactive artwork, makes an annual journey to each place at the same times every year, due to continue until 2050 - the year that scientists predict will be a watershed for more extreme climate and environmental change.
New rituals and special occasions are emerging in each place, as we gather together each year to celebrate Future Machine's appearance, witness the present, listen to the past and speak to the future.
Future Machine is appearing next...
Wednesday 23rd September 2026
by the Windermere-Leven Waters in Cumbria
Drop in to meet Future Machine at Windermere Library 1.30pm - 4pm
Watch the autumn equinox sunset and speak to the future
at Millerground, Lake Windermere 5.30pm-7.30pm
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Research
When the Future Comes is an art/research project taking place in collaboration with researchers at Horizon Digital Economy and the Mixed Reality Lab at the University of Nottingham, University of Derby, University of Bristol and University of Exeter. The research focuses on themes of human-nature-technology interactions, identifying the ineffable in our localities, considering responsible digital futures and ways to archive this longitudinal art/research project.