'After the Cloud: Rethinking AI Locally' Creative Workshop
About this Event
esea contemporary is pleased to present this interactive workshop exploring the creative possibilities of locally run artificial intelligence (AI). Together with Curator-in-Residence Milia Xin Bi and creative technologist Haidar Nasralla, participants will learn how to build, customise and experiment with AI models that run directly on their own computers, opening up new ways of thinking about creativity, technology and digital autonomy.
Artificial intelligence (AI) does not have to be owned or controlled by large technology companies. In this hands-on, three-hour workshop, participants will learn how to run powerful Large Language Models (LLMs) directly on their own laptops, without relying on cloud-based services. Designed to demystify generative AI, the workshop explores how locally run, open-source models can offer greater transparency, privacy and creative agency. Participants will learn how to choose, install and run an open-source AI model on their own laptop, before experimenting with ways to tailor it to their specific needs—from generating code to automating repetitive tasks.
The workshop will then move into a collaborative session using SillyTavern, an interface that enables users to design, write, and interact with LLM-driven characters. As a creative sandbox, it offers an accessible and engaging introduction to building personalised AI experiences while exploring the possibilities of local AI.
By the end of the workshop, participants will have developed AI literacy, a stronger understanding of digital sovereignty, and practical skills in deploying AI locally. They will gain a working knowledge of core AI concepts, set up a fully functional AI assistant running entirely on their own device with complete data privacy, and gain hands-on experience building chatbots, coding assistants, and other agentic AI applications.
Nasralla will also present his work as a creative technologist, concluding with a live public installation at the Communal Project Space. Using a pre-installed LLM running on an independent Wi-Fi network, visitors and participants will be able to connect via web interface and interact with the model entirely outside of commercial cloud platforms.
Notes before attending:
- Participants must bring a laptop and charger (Windows, macOS, or Linux). Apple Silicon or dedicated-graphics laptops are recommended, but any machine with at least 6 GB of RAM should be sufficient.
- Participants are recommended to download and install Ollama and SillyTavern.
- It is highly recommended that you download and test a model in advance. Ollama has suggestions on their websites tailored for specific setups. Look for Q4 or Q4_K_M models, and if you are using Mac Silicon, anything with MLX is optimised.
In case of any technical issues, the workshop will also provide access to its own locally hosted LLM. Participants will be able to connect to this model during the session.
No prior technical background or experience is required to attend this workshop. Advance booking is required to attend this event.
About Haidar Nasralla
Haidar Nasralla is a software engineer and creative technologist based in Manchester, UK. A former international classical trombonist with ensembles such as the Royal Swedish Opera and the European Capital of Culture, his work ranges from building complex production systems to interactive installations that transform real-time data into generative soundscapes. Haidar also helps organise Dorkbot Manchester, an open community for people involved in the creation of electronic art.
About Milia Xin Bi
Milia Xin Bi is a curator and writer based in Glossop, UK. Her curatorial practice explores how artistic practices can question the instrumental logic of technology and propose alternative narratives for how technology might be lived with. Her research explores multi-temporalities, manifold materialities, and mediated agency emerging from complex systems.
Milia was most recently Curator-in-Residence at FACT Liverpool (2025–2026), where her residency exhibition Can Meeple Escape the Neurophoria? was presented. Alongside this role, she has been an integral part of Chronus Art Center (CAC) since 2017, where she has led and contributed to numerous interdisciplinary projects. She is also the recipient of the Hyundai Blue Prize Art+Tech 2022.
About esea contemporary
esea contemporary is the UK’s only non-profit art centre specialising in presenting and platforming artists and art practices that identify with and are informed by East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) cultural backgrounds.
esea contemporary is situated in an award-winning building in the heart of Manchester, home to one of the largest East Asian populations in the UK. Since its inauguration as a community-oriented visual arts festival in 1986, esea contemporary has continuously evolved to establish itself as a dynamic and engaging space for cross-cultural exchanges in the British art scene, as well as in a global context.
esea contemporary aims to increase the visibility of contemporary art practices from the East and Southeast Asian communities and their diasporas. It is a site for forward-thinking art programmes that beyond exhibitions also include commissions, research, residencies, publishing, and a wide range of vibrant public events. esea contemporary values creativity, compassion, interconnectedness, and collectivity in implementing its mission.
Learn more at: www.eseacontemporary.org
Photo by Joe Smith.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 0.00 to GBP 5.00
