What can artists and machines make together, and who gets to decide how?

Over two days, actors, movement artists, musicians and sound artists from the Canberra creative community will work alongside robots at the University of Canberra's Collaborative Robotics Lab. On Monday evening, they open the doors and share what they have made.

Since 2017, RAPP Lab (Robots, Art, People and Performance Laboratory) has brought artists, engineers and audiences together through curiosity, experimentation and play, from Indigenous choreography to physical theatre ensembles. RAPP Lab 4.4 adds music to that conversation. Learn more at https://rapp-lab.roboticart.org

At the centre of the evening is ENACT, an embodied AI developed by Dr Maleen Jayasuriya and Piumi Wijesundara, which responds to a performer's body in real time. Alongside it are Dr Richard Savery's Keirzo music robots. Participants will improvise with both, devise short pieces, and look inside ENACT's neural network to see what it "pays attention to".

This is a work-in-progress sharing, not a polished production, surprises included.

AI is arriving in the creative arts quickly, often with little say from the artists whose work it draws on. RAPP Lab takes a different route, building its systems with performers and working through questions of ownership, authorship and benefit openly with the artists in the room. After the performances, join the conversation: what should ethical collaboration between artists, technologists and AI look like, and how might a community, rather than a company, shape it?

Stay on for light refreshments and a chance to meet the artists, researchers and robots. No technical background needed.

Date and time

Monday 26 October 2026, 6:30pm to 8:30pm (AEDT)

Showcase from 6:30pm, followed by light refreshments and networking.

Venue

Theatrette 1A21, Building 1
University of Canberra
11 Kirinari Street
Bruce ACT 2617

Getting there

Theatrette 1A21 is near Mizuna Cafe on the University of Canberra campus.
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/yMR3bxc8JhB3Xmmg9

Led by

Dr Maleen Jayasuriya, Piumi Wijesundara, Dr Richard Savery, Prof Damith Herath, and A/Prof Janie Busby Grant (University of Canberra)

Cost
Free. Registration essential as places are limited.

Enquiries
Piumi.Wijesundara@canberra.edu.au

Contact the host of RAPP Lab 4.4: Movement, Music and Machines

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