GLOW Lab for students

GLOW Lab is the place where students from universities explore the future of light art. Located at the Temporary Art Centre (TAC) in Eindhoven, the new home of GLOW since April 2026, this experimental environment offers students the space to research and test new ideas, technologies and forms of light art as part of their graduation or internship projects. In dialogue with GLOW, fellow students and professionals, they develop prototypes, insights and innovative concepts.

GLOW Lab operates year-round and is separate from the festival. It does not focus on creating a light artwork for the route, but on developing techniques and concepts that may be applied in future light art. During GLOW, some research projects may be presented to the public, for example as demonstrations, prototypes, lectures or presentations of research findings.

Research themes 2026

Students choose a starting point from a shared field of research. This provides focus while leaving plenty of room for individual interpretation and experimentation:

• Perception – How do people experience light? How does light influence emotion, attention and spatial experience? How can light art become accessible to visually impaired visitors?
• Interaction and gathering – How can light create shared experiences and stimulate interaction between people?
• Robotics – Movement, automation and intelligent systems within light installations.
• White canvas – A fully self-defined research theme chosen by the student.

Within these themes, students formulate their own questions, methods and outcomes. Each new cohort builds on the knowledge of previous participants.

Collaboration with companies

Companies can join GLOW Lab by contributing real-world questions or challenges, or by making materials, technology or expertise available for research and experimentation. This is not about direct product development, but about long-term exploration and innovation together. See here for more information about GLOW Lab for companies.