Goldsmiths academic joins international juries shaping digital art

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Dr Rachel Falconer’s appointments to a series of leading global platforms place Goldsmiths at the centre of critical conversations at the intersection of art, technology and innovation.

Female with glassed looks into camera — Dr Rachel Falconer, Head of Subject for Creative Technology appointed to leading international digital art juries

Dr Rachel Falconer, Head of Subject, Creative Technology, based in the School of Computing, has been invited to return for a second year as a jury member for the Lumen Prize, which is widely regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious awards for digital art, recognising artists who are pushing the boundaries of creative practice through technology.

In this role, Dr Falconer joins an international panel of experts drawn from globally recognised institutions including the Tate, Whitney Museum of American Art, Victoria and Albert Museum and Art Dubai, placing Goldsmiths within a network of organisations shaping the direction of contemporary art and culture.

Alongside her jury role, Dr Falconer is the author of the Liminal Review Trend Report, published in association with the Lumen Prize. The report examines emerging directions in digital art and creative technology, and she has been invited to write its second edition this year, further underlining her influence in shaping critical discourse in the field.

Explore the Liminal Review Trend Report

A contemporary gallery space with large digital artworks on the walls and floor, including a vibrant abstract projection and a central floor piece — Amaroid by Arjan Emmanuel Sanchez Guerrero , MA Computational Arts graduate and recipient of the Lumen Prize Global Majority Award

Dr Falconer has also been appointed as an advisor to the Ars Electronica S+T+ARTS Prize, an initiative of the European Commission that brings together science, technology and the arts to drive innovation. The prize recognises pioneering projects that respond to pressing social, ecological and economic challenges, with a particular emphasis on work that can influence policy, industry and public understanding.

In addition, Rachel will serve for a second consecutive year as a jury member for the Olympics Heritage Artists in Residence Programme. The programme supports artists working with digital and emerging media to explore themes of heritage, identity and global cultural exchange, further extending Goldsmiths’ presence across major international platforms.

Shaping the field, not just participating in it…

Reflecting on the appointments, Dr Falconer said:

Digital art isn’t a niche practice anymore, it’s where some of the most urgent cultural and technological questions are being worked through. What’s exciting about these roles is being part of that global conversation but also recognising how much of this thinking is already happening at Goldsmiths. Our students and alumni aren’t just responding to the field, they’re actively shaping it.”

Dr Rachel Falconer, Head of Subject, Creative Technology, School of Computing

Rachel’s involvement across these juries reflects a broader shift in the role of creative technology within higher education from a specialist discipline to a critical space for exploring the social, political and cultural implications of technological change.

Still from a digital artwork showing a dense, green forest with layered foliage, tall thin trees and soft golden light creating a hazy, immersive atmosphere — Still from Portrait of the Jungle People by Eddie Wong, MA Computational Arts graduate and recipient of the Lumen Prize Moving Image Award

At Goldsmiths, this approach is embedded within the Creative Technology subject area in the School of Computing, where students are encouraged to combine technical expertise with critical and creative inquiry. This interdisciplinary model has produced graduates who are not only technically skilled, but also equipped to question, challenge and reshape the systems they work within.

Rachel’s appointments to these internationally respected juries speak to the strength of Goldsmiths’ contribution to creative and technological practice. Our approach has long been to bring critical thinking and creative experimentation into dialogue with emerging technologies. It’s a powerful affirmation of that work to see it recognised on such a significant global stage.”

Professor David Oswell, Vice-Chancellor (interim)

A strong track record and growing influence

The appointments also build on a strong track record of engagement with leading digital art platforms. Goldsmiths alumni have previously been recognised by the Lumen Prize, demonstrating the university’s role in nurturing practitioners who go on to influence the field internationally.

This continuity between teaching, research and professional practice is a defining feature of Goldsmiths’ approach and one that ensures its academic community remains closely connected to the evolving landscapes of art, technology and cultural production.

Watch a reel featuring Goldsmiths alumni whose work has been recognised by the Lumen Prize