The Instrument Makers Lab was a major success in 2025, establishing itself as a vital space for hands on experimentation, research, and creative exchange at the intersection of sound, technology, and design. The Lab brought together artists, technologists, and instrument builders to explore new possibilities in both hardware and software, encouraging participants to prototype, test, and rethink how musical instruments are made and experienced.

One of the standout projects to emerge from the Lab was the prototyping of an Embarie xylophone constructed from recycled skateboards. The project combined sustainability, local instrument traditions, and contemporary design, resulting in a striking and unconventional instrument that challenged ideas around materials, reuse, and sound-making. This prototype will be presented at this year’s edition, offering audiences a chance to engage with the outcomes of last year’s collaborative process.

Building on the strong momentum of 2025, the Instrument Makers Lab returns this year in an expanded format. In support of our theme Sound and Solidarity the Instrument Makers Lab will be extended to two weeks. Running from 16th - 28th February, the Lab will allow for deeper exploration, longer development cycles, and more meaningful collaboration between participants. This year’s programme will focus specifically on accessibility in instrument design, placing inclusive thinking at the centre of the creative process. The Lab will explore how instruments and technologies can be designed to accommodate diverse bodies, abilities, and ways of interacting with sound.

Through workshops, prototyping sessions, and open experimentation, the Instrument Makers Lab continues to support innovative approaches to instrument-building while fostering dialogue around access, sustainability, and the future of music-making. The Lab remains a space where ideas can be tested freely, knowledge can be shared across disciplines, and new tools for creative expression can emerge.

Watch highlights from last year’s Instrument Makers Lab here: