Artificial Intelligence Humanities Sandpits: Canada, UK and US (Invite Only)
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) · United Kingdom, Canada and United States
Funding to support collaborative research projects that integrate humanities and arts methodologies into artificial intelligence design, following participation in an international sandpit workshop.
Summary
Deadline
28 May 2026
Updated
16 Oct 2026
Funding to support collaborative research projects that integrate humanities and arts methodologies into artificial intelligence design, following participation in an international sandpit workshop.
Eligibility
Applicant types
See eligibility requirements
Industries
Artificial intelligence, humanities, arts, digital technologies and interdisciplinary research.
Match funding
No matched funding required beyond the standard 20% FEC contribution for UK applicants.
Eligible applicants
Researchers based at eligible UK, Canadian or US research organisations who attended the February 2026 Montreal sandpit and were invited to apply.
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
Up to £156,250 Full Economic Cost per UK project; AHRC funds 80% of FEC (£125,000)
Total fund available
£1,160,000 total; £780,000 allocated for UK-based teams
Funding intensity
UK teams receive 80% of Full Economic Cost; AHRC funding is up to £125,000 per UK project. Canada-based teams can receive up to CAD$200,000 per project.
Payment type
Not specified
Eligible scope
Projects developing prototypes, tools, frameworks or methodologies that improve AI systems' interpretive capabilities and integrate humanities or arts approaches into technical AI design.
Eligible expenses
- Staff costs, project delivery costs, collaboration costs, travel and justified project resources in line with UKRI and SSHRC funding rules.
Ineligible costs
Not specified
Application and risks
Application platform
UKRI Funding Service
Competitiveness
Up to five grants will be funded.
Decision timeline
Assessment is expected to be completed within approximately two months of submission, with funding decisions expected around July 2026.
Assessment process
Applications are assessed by a panel comprising the Sandpit Director and Mentors, chaired by an independent academic.
Application sections
- Summary, Vision, Approach, Applicant and team capability (R4RI), Ethics and RRI, Resources and cost justification, Project partners, Data management and sharing, Trusted Research and Innovation, and International collaboration.
Application components
Not specified
Decision risks
Applications may be rejected if applicants were not invited, eligibility criteria are not met, collaboration is insufficient, or the proposal does not demonstrate strong interdisciplinary integration and alignment with the opportunity.
Timeline and partners
Opening date
5 May 2026
Project duration
18 months
Project start
1 Oct 2026
Project end
Not specified
Co-funders
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)
Collaboration rules
- Projects must involve meaningful collaboration between humanities or arts researchers and technical AI researchers. Teams should primarily consist of sandpit participants, with additional members included only where their expertise is clearly justified.
Consortium requirements
- Projects must include the required UK and Canadian participation, with additional US researchers permitted. Teams should demonstrate complementary humanities/arts and technical AI expertise.
Additional guidance
Document research last revised 2026-08-13.
International Collaboration Requirement
Required collaboration across UK and Canada, with US researchers eligible to participate as international co-leads or team members.
Research Category
Interdisciplinary research combining humanities and arts methodologies with technical artificial intelligence research.
Research Organisation Funding
Host organisations must provide the necessary research environment, infrastructure and support for project delivery.
Subcontractors
Not specified
Interview Stage
Not specified
Key Requirements
Applicants must have attended the February 2026 Montreal sandpit, demonstrate meaningful interdisciplinary collaboration between humanities/arts and technical AI researchers, and develop outputs aligned with interpretive AI challenges.
Important Notes
This is an invite-only opportunity. UK applications are submitted through the UKRI Funding Service. Projects should contribute to an open ecosystem of tools, resources and technical components for interpretive AI and demonstrate potential real-world impact.
Application deadline in source document
28 May 2026, 4:00pm UK time
Official source
Quick facts
- Status
- Closed
- Deadline
- 28 May 2026
- Funding amount
- Up to £156,250 Full Economic Cost per UK project; AHRC funds 80% of FEC (£125,000)
- Funding band
- Not specified
- Funding type
- Grant
- Payment type
- Not specified
- Audience
- See eligibility requirements
- Industry
- Artificial intelligence, humanities, arts, digital technologies and interdisciplinary research.
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Published
- 16 Mar 2026