Posted on

Virtual Reality and Movement Artist Grant Open Call

Artists or artist groups are invited to apply for small grants of £2000 to create work over 2 months remote residency using a new tool InteractML being developed by the team behind the 4i research project.

The tool enables the design and implementation of movement interaction for immersive media using interactive machine learning. We are accepting proposals for virtual reality artworks and/or performances that involve movement interactivity.

These will be presented at a public symposium event (the form of which is yet to be decided) where artists will present and exhibit their developments using InteractML.

InteractML

InteractML is a plug-in for Unity 3D software, allowing creators to capture and implement complex movements in their applications by simply performing them. By enabling creators to configure machine learning models from within a graph and node-based programming system, the tool aims to make movement interaction faster, adaptable and accessible to creators of varying experience and background. 

4i Research Project

4i: Immersive Interaction design for Indie Developers with Interactive machine learning is an EPSRC funded project that aims to enable independent developers and artists to design and implement movement-based interaction for immersive media such as Virtual, Augmented and Mixed reality.

The project is a partnership between Goldsmiths, University of London, The University of Coventry, University of the Arts London, Gibson/Martelli and CodeLiberation.

Grant Period

Cohort 1 of 2 (2 months): Feb – March 2021

We are offering 3 grants in 2 rounds, the call for round 2 will be announced Spring 2021.

Deadline for Submissions

Midnight GMT, Wednesday 8 January 2021

EXTENDED Midnight GMT Wednesday 13 January 2021

Deadline Passed

Notification by 22 January 2021

Fee

The artist or artist group will be awarded reimbursement of £2000 for the project. 

What is involved

Over a 2 month period, artists will create work using our tool InteractML. We are accepting project proposals for virtual reality artworks and/or performances that involve movement interactivity.

Artists can incorporate the tool into their existing practice or develop new work or work in progress. Outside of these requirements artists will have full creative control and will retain the copyright of their work. The 4i team will require consent to use images, videos and digital renderings of the artwork or performance for publicly available promotional materials and for public dissemination of the project findings in publications or presentations to industry as well as academic audiences.

We will offer artists full support from our team on using InteractML. Artists will be invited to join our movement ideation workshops designed to enable our users to bodystorm compelling movement interaction designs for immersive media. As a part of the project, there will be interviews with the artists at several points during the residency about their experience using InteractML and about their practice in general. Given the current pandemic situation we are prepared to offer support remotely. Artists are expected to work from their own studio or workspace using their own equipment.

Artists are to present and exhibit their developments using InteractML at a symposium event to be organised at the end of the research project (September 2021). The form of which is yet to be decided, but will either be online or at Goldsmiths University, London. This event is intended to raise the profile of the research and artworks by bringing together key XR and technology industry figures and academics in computing, psychology, arts and other disciplines.

Eligibility Criteria

Artists must be age 18 or above, and residing in EMEA  countries.

As we are specifically looking for applications for proposals that use virtual reality technologies; artists, or at least one member of an artists group must have sufficient experience working in Unity3D software to build virtual reality work.

As our tool InteractML is aimed at enabling movement interactivity in immersive artwork and/or performance we are prioritising projects that have a particular focus on movement practice. We encourage artists, or artist groups with members that have a background in movement practice and dance.

We reserve 1 grant for artists from groups who experience racism, and 1 grant for artists from marginalised communities in the technology industry (including groups who experience racism, women, non-binary people, disabled artists or members from the LGBTQAI+ community).

Application Procedure

We accept applications in English only.

How to apply:

  • Filled in application form  (Word)
  • Portfolio with a selection of links or a PDF to 3–5 relevant projects from you/the team
  • CV/s (max. 2 pages A4 PDF).

The application form and all applicable attachments must be submitted by email along with any questions to Nicola Plant. 

Links