Open call for New Dimensions Lab (7th Edition)

The 7th New Dimensions Lab is proudly presented by Electric South and supported by Agog, the Ford Foundation and the National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa.

Now in its 7th edition, the New Dimensions Lab brings together diverse experienced African artists and creative technologists to develop nonfiction stories told through XR technologies alongside leading industry advisors.

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.

For the 7th edition, they will be inviting some advisors to cover social XR experience design. They will have a special focus on social XR this year and they welcome ideas that explore this territory. They also invite artists to apply with impactful XR nonfiction stories. They are open to a range of creative nonfiction approaches so don’t limit yourselves. Your projects should incorporate VR, AR or a mix of the two.

Successful applicants are curious and collaborative with a strong portfolio of past work, they are experimental in their approach and strive for excellence in their execution.

About the Lab

• The lab is for African artists and creative technologists working at an advanced level in their creative practice, who want to learn, experiment, play and create at the intersection of storytelling and technology.
• They are looking for artists who have a healthy dose of enthusiasm for new technologies and a willingness to undergo a steep learning curve during the lab.
• The lab is geared toward supporting artists in residence to develop their project concept, the outcome being a fully realised project idea and a completed pitch deck which can be used to mobilise further resources.

What they will do?

• Provide dedicated, one-on-one support from onsite immersive storytelling advisors and creative technologists.
• Provide the environment in which to explore and experiment in immersive storytelling tools.
• Provide seven days in residence in South Africa in November 2024.
• After the Lab, there is the opportunity for Electric South to grant two of the projects $20,000 each to complete their projects.

Who can apply?

• Applicants must:
  • Be citizens or permanent residents of an African country;
  • Currently living on the African continent;
  • Be accomplished in an artistic field. Any creative discipline is welcome. Past applicants have experience in: documentary and fiction film, theatre, performance & visual arts, photography, design, creative technology and game development;
  • Be able to depart from and return to an airport in an African country.

Project Criteria

• Project ideas must:
  • Be non-fiction stories. They welcome creative interpretation of documentaries and fiction/documentary hybrids. This year they are also looking for social XR experiences and XR projects that can create real impact.
  • Use immersive technologies, such as Virtual Reality (VR) or Augmented Reality (AR). This could include technologies and approaches such as:
  • Volumetric Capture, Photogrammetry,
  • Artificial intelligence,
  • Game Engines, World Building,
  • Social worlds and experiences,
  • 360 Film, Animation,
  • Projection Mapping,
  • Hybrid forms, and beyond.

For more information, visit Electric South.