"A new kind of revolution is unfolding-a cognitive evolution that is already reshaping culture, industry and the way we think. Cambridge is uniquely placed to lead that conversation. These lectures bring artists, researchers, and innovators together to explore how human creativity remains the force that drives progress in an intelligent world."
-Sally Clark, Director of MODO and ACE CIC
Join a groundbreaking public lecture series that brings together scientists, educators, industry thinkers, students, artists, and the wider public to explore how human intelligence has evolved, how creativity has historically driven social and economic progress, and what artificial intelligence may mean for the next phase of collective thought- both today and for future generations navigating the education system.
The programme features leading voices from research, education, culture, and applied inquiry, including:
- Simon Baron-Cohen – Professor of Developmental Psychopathology, University of Cambridge
- Dr Alexandros Tsompanidis – Researcher, Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge
- Andrew Osmant – CFO, Cambridge Mechatronics
- Eryk Salvaggio – Writer and researcher on AI and cultural ethics
- Dr Petri (CETI) – Researcher on whale intelligence and communication
Through exploratory talks, the series investigates how creativity, neuroplasticity, and cross-disciplinary thinking are shaping the future of education, innovation, industry, and the economy in the age of AI.
Rooted in the ideas that underpin David Hockney’s inquiry into perception, perspective, and the cultural power of images, the lectures extend his exploration of how technologies—from painting to photography, film, and digital systems—actively shape how we see, understand, and share reality.
The Cambridge Lectures on Art & Intelligence is designed as a multi-year public inquiry. Rather than debating technology, the series fosters a sustained conversation on the evolution of human intelligence through changing image systems and the potential of creative thought in a rapidly changing world.
Ticket sales support ACE CIC, a not-for-profit organisation addressing the systemic marginalisation of the arts in education and nurturing the conditions for inventive and expansive thinking.
This lecture series is presented as part of Arts Festival Cambridge 2026, celebrating the city’s vibrant arts landscape, connecting audiences with new ideas, and engaging local communities and businesses with the cultural life of Cambridge.