FutureEverything has closed after 31 years, bringing to an end one of Manchester’s early digital culture organisations.

Founded by Drew Hemment in 1995 as Futuresonic, the non-profit became known for connecting artists, technologists and public bodies around emerging digital technologies. Its work spanned early mobile and locative media, open data, smart cities and, later, artificial intelligence.

FutureEverything was closely tied to Manchester’s growth as a centre for digital business and research, and was at one stage described as one of the world’s top 10 idea festivals.

Long reach

Over three decades, the group developed projects that extended beyond the UK, from Manchester to cities including Singapore, Moscow and San Jose. It worked with organisations including the Singapore Government, the European Commission and Intel.

Among its best-known projects was Mobile Connections 2004, which it described as the world’s first major cultural event focused on mobile media. It also created Open Data Cities, one of Europe’s early open data initiatives, and GROW Observatory, which it described as the first citizens’ observatory operating at continental scale.

Its model centred on a festival-as-lab approach, using cultural events to test ideas and build longer-term programmes. That helped it move across the arts, research and public policy at a time when digital culture was still a specialist field.

In later years, the organisation increased its focus on AI. Under creative directors Irini Papadimitriou and Lucy Rose Sollitt, and executive director Chris Wright, it staged a series of international exhibitions on art and AI that reached 400,000 visitors, according to the organisation.

It also launched Nature Directed, a project intended to give nature legal decision-making power within the organisation. That initiative will continue after the closure.

Legacy work

A new archive and legacy site has been launched to document the organisation’s history and collect contributions from people in the technology and creative sectors. Hemment is also continuing related work through Doing AI Differently at The Alan Turing Institute, a global initiative that applies methods developed during FutureEverything’s run to AI development.

Hemment said the closure reflected both a shift in the place of digital culture and wider pressures on smaller organisations.

“FutureEverything was born when digital culture was a niche interest with a small international community of pioneering artists, technologists and institutions. Now, digital culture no longer exists as a discrete field – it’s everywhere, embedded in everything. The debates we championed, around AI, data, surveillance and climate, are now central to global discourse daily. In a way, it feels like the end of FutureEverything marks the moment a pioneering generation passes the baton to the mainstream it helped to create.

“The closure also reflects the structural precarity faced by small pioneering cultural organisations in a post-pandemic funding environment – influential far beyond their means,” said Drew Hemment, founder of FutureEverything.

The board said the organisation’s influence far exceeded its size. Its record includes support for artists and researchers whose work later fed into wider debates on technology, culture and society.

Annette Mees, chair of the board, pointed to that broader impact. “FutureEverything has had an outsized influence on digital culture, on Manchester, and on countless artists, technologists and communities around the world. We are proud of everything the team has achieved, and certain its legacy will continue to shape technological futures,” she said.

Arts Council England said the organisation had played an important role over three decades in connecting creative and research communities. That work helped establish new approaches to the relationship between art, technology and society.

Hemment said the organisation’s work would continue in other forms.

“I’m proud of the way FutureEverything’s team carried the organisation through its final chapter with dedication and care. Over three decades, it sparked major initiatives that continue to thrive, with people it nurtured going on to significant careers across the digital culture sector.

“FutureEverything has been the defining work of my life, and it belonged to everyone who shaped it. What we built together – the ideas, the community, the fields we helped open up – doesn’t close with the company. It carries forward into the future it helped to imagine,” he said.

Nexfibre has revealed plans for a major broadband upgrade with the multimillion investment in digital infrastructure in the area.

The wholesale full-fibre network provider acquired Netomnia earlier this year, and the deal will give Oxford residents faster access to full-fibre broadband.

This fibre network will be available to all internet service providers, ensuring local people have a wide choice of broadband services.

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Following approval, homes and businesses connected to Virgin Media O2’s network will be upgraded to full-fibre connectivity.

Rajiv Datta, Chief Executive Officer of Nexfibre, said:  “We are committed to delivering high-quality connectivity to everyone across the country.

“Full-fibre broadband is a crucial driver of economic growth, and our investment in Oxford will help deliver better access to education, jobs, and opportunities that can transform lives and uplift entire communities.”

The transaction as a whole is said to be unlocking £3.5bn of international investment, providing a boost to the UK economy, as well as ensuring millions of network upgrades take place across the country.

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As part of its broader investment in the area, Nexfibre also partners with UK Youth to offer free full-fibre broadband to youth centres across the UK to help tackle digital poverty.

Access to quality full-fibre broadband and better connectivity is critical to boosting the prospects of disadvantaged young people and stoking economic growth.

Up to seven youth centres in Oxford could benefit from the partnership.

Nexfibre’s network currently covers more than 2.6 million premises across the UK, and the combined network’s full-fibre footprint is expected to reach around 8 million premises by the end of 2027.

GoCardless has published research indicating that most UK recurring-revenue businesses view commercial Variable Recurring Payments as their preferred alternative to legacy payment methods. The findings indicate strong interest among businesses in sectors expected to be included in the initial rollout.

The study surveyed 489 UK business leaders at companies that accept recurring payments and found broad frustration with existing systems, especially cards. Nearly three-quarters, or 73%, reported ongoing pain points with card payments, while 42% said they spend more than three hours each week dealing with related issues.

According to the research, card-related administration, fraud and other overheads cost merchants an average of 3.5% of monthly revenue. GoCardless presents commercial VRPs that use open banking infrastructure for recurring payments as a possible solution for industries such as utilities, financial services, and telecommunications.

Card friction

The figures highlight the operational burden on businesses that rely on recurring billing. Time spent resolving failed payments, handling card expiry and managing fraud checks can affect revenue collection and customer retention, particularly in sectors where regular billing is central to the business model.

Among decision-makers in the first phase of the commercial VRP rollout, 89% said the technology would significantly improve cash flow. Another 91% expected it to reduce operational costs.

The initial phase is focused on regulated and lower-risk sectors, including utilities, financial services, insurance, government, charities, and rail and travel. A later phase is expected to extend to broader eCommerce, retail and digital subscription markets.

The survey also found that 49% intend to be early adopters of commercial VRPs. This suggests many companies are willing to move quickly if the product is available through familiar payment channels and supported by banks.

Adoption conditions

The findings also point to practical concerns around execution. When asked what would encourage adoption or greater use of open banking payments, 41% of businesses cited access through their existing payment provider, while the same share pointed to wider consumer bank coverage.

This suggests demand may depend less on awareness than on delivery. Businesses appear to want a route into commercial VRPs that does not require major changes to their payment operations, along with confidence that enough banks will support the payment method.

A separate survey of 2,000 UK adults suggested there is also consumer interest, particularly among younger users. Overall, 38% of respondents said they were open to using the technology, rising to 60% among Gen Z.

Interest was strongest for essential household services. Some 46% said they would be willing to use commercial VRPs for energy bills, while 35% said the same for telecoms payments.

Industry shift

The research comes as regulators and industry participants work through a phased introduction of commercial VRPs in the UK. Supporters see the model as a way for consumers to authorise recurring bank-to-bank payments with more flexibility than traditional direct debit arrangements, although the rollout remains limited to selected sectors at this stage.

For providers of recurring services, the appeal lies in reducing failed collections and reliance on card networks. For consumers, the pitch is direct account-based payments for regular bills and subscriptions, though broad uptake will depend on trust, bank participation and ease of use.

Shaun Puckrin outlined GoCardless’s view of the market in a statement accompanying the findings.

“The numbers don’t lie: the era of settling for high-friction, legacy payment methods is over. We’re seeing openness and demand from both sides of the checkout for a more intelligent, bank-led alternative. As a company that has specialised in bank payments for 15 years, it’s incredibly exciting to see the industry catching up and working together in the live testing phase to prove out commercial VRPs and we’re confident that our solution, Recurring Pay by Bank, makes adoption viable and highly effective today,” said Shaun Puckrin, Chief Product Officer, GoCardless.