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The New Dimensions Lab is proudly presented by Electric South and supported by the Ford Foundation and the National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa.
Now in its 6th edition, the New Dimensions Lab brings together diverse interdisciplinary African artists to develop stories told through creative technology alongside leading industry mentors. We invite you to apply on or before 7 August 2023 at 23h59 SAST.
The Lab takes place over the course of a week in South Africa, where artists engage in discussions and masterclasses, and workshop their creative projects.
Past mentors have included Kamal Sinclair, Emily Paige, Gareth Steele, Sarah Ellis, Trevor Snapp, Saschka Unseld, Ulrico Grech-Cumbo, Brian Afande, Jason Stapleton, Tamara Shogaolu, Ben Kreimer, Rick Treweek, Darren Emerson, Yasmin Elayat, Jessica Brillhart, Katharina Meissner and many others.
For the 6th edition, we will be inviting some mentors to cover responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence in the creation of XR work.
Successful applicants are curious and collaborative, they are experimental in their approach and strive for excellence in their execution.
We are very open to many different creative mediums, from fine arts to filmmaking to game design to photography, theatre, and more.
Electric South fully covers travel, visa costs, accommodation and meals for participants and three of the participants will be granted a financial contribution towards the production of their work after the Lab.
In-person from 22 October 2023 – 29 October 2023 in South Africa (full-time).
Be non-fiction stories. We welcome creative interpretation of documentaries and fiction/documentary hybrids.
Use immersive technologies, such as Virtual Reality (VR) or Augmented Reality (AR). This could include technologies and approaches such as:
If you have not heard from us by 31 August 2023 please note that your application has been unsuccessful.
Any questions?
Please contact info@electricsouth.org
Electric South is a non-profit company based in Cape Town, South Africa. We provide mentorship, production services, funding and exhibition for a network of artists across Africa to explore their worlds through immersive, interactive stories including virtual and augmented reality, and other digital media. To date we’ve produced immersive experiences that have premiered at various global festivals and exhibition spaces including Venice VR Expanded, Sundance New Frontier, IDFA DocLab, Transmediale, Sheffield DocFest, Centre Phi, MUTEK and vNAF (virtual National Arts Festival of South Africa). We remain committed to building inclusive spaces for immersive media creators in Africa.
The stories we tell, and the art we create, help us understand our world and make connections to others. Yet the stories we hear the most still disproportionately favour and represent a select few. By lifting up underrepresented or unheard voices, we can strengthen understandings of human complexity. We can push back against narratives that undermine fairness. And we can disrupt inequality.
Our work explores how cultural narratives affect and shape our reality, and how the arts, journalism, and film can contribute to fairer and more just societies. We are committed to strengthening diverse networks of cultural producers and decision makers. We seek to illuminate the root causes of injustice.
Across our work we prioritise support to artist-driven projects and organisations that include deep and meaningful engagement with communities.
An agency mandated by the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture, the National Film and Video Foundation provides funding for the development, production, marketing, and distribution of films – including helping filmmakers represent and market their work internationally. In addition, the NFVF commissions research and produces industry statistics that provide both the public and stakeholders with valuable insights into the South African film industry.
It also promotes the development of South African film and television audiences, develops talent and skills in the country – with a special emphasis on previously disadvantaged groups.
Stories that are told using a creative technology which engages your senses. This could include virtual reality, augmented reality, spatial audio, projection mapping, and beyond. Browse the MIT Open Doc Lab Docubase to give you a sense of the range of possibilities: https://docubase.mit.edu/
We offer a menu of support for our lab alumni, which may include funding, producing, creative and technical consultation, mentorship, industry networking, equipment loans, distribution, and more.
Our past artists have gone on to produce immersive work, and many continue to explore emerging and immersive media in their current practice.
We are looking for creative explorers who have an established artistic practice in their respective crafts. Successful applicants are curious and collaborative, they are experimental in their approach and strive for excellence in their execution. We are very open to many different creative mediums, from fine arts to filmmaking to game design to photography to theatre, and more. We love bringing an interdisciplinary cohort to the lab because it makes the experience more rewarding for everyone.
Have more questions? Please contact info@electricsouth.org