Almost £1.2m has been allocated to 83 artist-led projects across the UK in the first round of funding for a scheme supporting artists of all backgrounds and experience to work with immersive technologies.
Immersive Arts received 2,517 applications from across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and awarded 50 Explore grants (£5,000), 24 Experiment grants (£20,000) and nine Expand grants (£50,000).
Range of technologies
The successful projects will work with technologies including virtual, augmented and mixed reality; spatial audio; interactive projections; machine vision; responsive environments; AI; haptics; and connected textiles.
They will explore a range of art forms including dance, theatre, visual arts, music, games, animation, film, sculpture and live art.
An Experiment grant was awarded to Martin Joseph O’Neill, artistic director The Stove Network, for Phanto Spectra – a site-specific AV performance that will transform the Scottish town of Dumfries’ riverbanks into a sensory exploration of its hidden histories.
The Baby Factory is Closed, by Neon chief executive Deepa Mann-Kler, meanwhile, has been awarded an Expand grant. The hybrid documentary/multi-player immersive experience redefines how the menopause is understood and discussed, transforming it from a stigmatised topic into an empowering narrative through innovative storytelling and multi-sensory technology.
Exploring the creative potential
Immersive Arts is a UK-wide research and development programme, supporting over 200 UK-based artists and organisations to explore the creative potential of immersive technologies.
Funding is provided through a collaboration between the UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Arts Council England, Arts Council of Wales, Creative Scotland and Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
AHRC executive chair Christopher Smith said: “Immersive technologies offer the UK’s artists and creatives new and exciting ways to produce work that engages the public and promotes growth in our creative industries.
“This programme is designed to give them access to these cutting-edge creative technologies to see how they can be used, and it is clear from the number of applications that it is an opportunity they are eager to take.”
For a full list of the first-round Immersive Arts funded projects, click here.
