Creative Informatics are presenting Ray Interactive, Playable Technology, Black Goblin, and SENSEcity as part the Immersive Future Lab at SXSW 2023. Creative Informatics has worked closely with these creative businesses providing funding, mentoring, support and advice and we can’t wait to bring them to the stage to showcase their exciting innovations with sound, audio and data.

XR Stories are also participating in the Immersive Futures Lab at SXSW, showcasing their eXtended Reality experiences arising from partnerships with businesses in the North of England. The XR Stories team will also be sharing new research and exploring the innovations, issues and future impact of immersive technologies via a series of short talks and panel events.
 

On 23 January, Digital Catapult launched the MyWorld Challenge Call, titled 'Catalysts and Connectors: Tools for the Creative Industries', funded by the UKRI, Strength in Places Fund. The call aims to build prototypes that demonstrate clear advancements in technology and novel applications of existing tools. Closes 13 March 2023.

➤ More info & apply

Virtual production studio Pathway has launched a £2.06m incubator, Pathway Indie, for new ideas in the virtual production space. It will invest resources over the next five years, with applicants receiving in-kind access to develop their ideas or in-kind studio time and art department services to offset their virtual production costs. Interested applicants can now join the waiting list.

➤ Read more

This blog from UKRI reflects on the launch of CoSTAR and what to expect from the funding programme in 2023.

"Looking towards 2023, we can build on that engagement and really begin to visualise CoSTAR – how it might function, where it could be located, how and who it might be accessed by to accelerate innovation, competitiveness and ambition in the screen and performance industries..."

Laura Partridge, Strategic Lead, CoSTAR programme, AHRC

➤ Read more

Are you a creative freelancer or business based in the Cardiff Capital Region or in Wales? Do you have an idea for a new product, service or experience in the media sector? Media Cymru’s Seed Fund offers applicants up to £10,000 to carry out Research and Development activities. Closes 17 Feb 2023.

➤ More info & apply
 

The New Landscapes: Fashion, Textiles and Technology Catalyst R&D Grant Scheme will provide five collaborative grants of up to £6,000 cash and up to £15,000 in-kind support to proposals that: Grow global networks; Support SMEs to exchange methods; and support young designers to become advocates for sustainable textiles technologies. Closes 6 Feb 2023.

➤ More info & apply

Explore cutting-edge immersive storytelling, created by the most inspiring female and non-binary artists from all over the world. Attend 6 to 12 February, daily 2pm to 9pm in the NFT2 Foyer and Atrium at BFI Southbank. Free entry, no booking required.

➤ Find out more

StoryFutures: The National Centre for Immersive Storytelling has released the new findings of a report providing a map of the VP skills needed across the Film, TV and Games Industries. Attend the launch and webinar, hosted by Head of Virtual Production Prof. Peter Richardson; with report insights delivered by Dr Claude Heath, Senior Research Fellow at StoryFutures. 

➤ More info

Factory42's UnEarthed is part of the Official Selection for the SXSW Film & TV Festival in Austin. UnEarthed, created in partnership with Meta Immersive Learning, is a multi-story adventure where the player gathers research and learns about biodiversity. Festival goers will be able to try sequences from UnEarthed in the XR Festival area at the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Austin, 12-14 March. The full experience will be released in later this year.

➤ View teaser

Creativity, Culture & Capital is a collaborative project between Arts & Culture Finance (UK), Upstart Co-Lab (US) and Fundación Compromiso (Argentina), three women-led non-profit organisations, working at the intersection of impact investment and the creative economy. They have released a volume sharing examples of the ways in which the visual arts, film, music, fashion and other creative industries can tackle problems from healthcare to indigenous rights, from prisoner rehabilitation to smart cities.

➤ Read more

The Creative Industries are a significant economic force in the UK, generating £115.9bn GVA and providing 2.2 million jobs. The sector is diverse and encompasses sub-sectors such as performing arts, computer games, and graphic design. The Creative Industries have the potential to support the UK's economy and provide a productivity boost. This briefing from Creative PEC aims to inform the incoming prime minister about three important areas where investment is needed for growth in the coming years.

➤ Read more

Belfast-based film production company Bamstick have brought to life Ulster’s mythological warrior, Cuhullin, using Virtual Production technologies. Developed through Future Screens NI R&D fund and utilising Ulster University’s Virtual Production studio, the project is currently partnering with potential stakeholders and attaching world class talent. 

➤ Read more