Belfast XR Festival launches 200,000 GBP fund to support emerging XR developers
Belfast XR Festival has launched a new £200,000 ($270,000) creative development fund to address what organizers describe as a "critical gap" in the UK's immersive media ecosystem.
The UK-wide program has been dubbed 'Amplify: XR Labs' and will be delivered by Belfast XR Festival with support from BFI Creative Challenge Fund.
Amplify: XR Labs will provide strategic early-stage support for new and emerging producers working on narrative-led XR and immersive projects. The intent is to de-risk early the earliest stages of development for creatives operating in the space by offering paid development time and tailored mentorship.
The program is open to 10 teams based the UK—although they must be led by new and emerging producers and supporting by a director or writer and creative technologist.
"Applicants may be new to XR, provided they can demonstrate emerging status within their existing screen or creative practice," reads an announcement. "Projects must be intended for development in a narrative immersive format using XR technologies, with the ambition to progress towards production, market readiness and distribution"
Amplify: XR Labs will support producers from backgrounds "historically under-represented in immersive media"Successful applicants will receive a working stipend of £1,772.80 per team member (£5,318 per team); a three-day in-person residency in Belfast; bespoke masterclasses led by XR industry veterans; one-to-one project mentoring; five days of rapid prototyping and creative technology support per project; travel and accommodation costs; an accessibility stipend (including childcare support); and an invitation to an exclusive UK finance gap market and distribution event.
"Amplify:XR Labs has been intentionally designed to support producers from backgrounds and regions that have been historically under-represented in immersive media, with paid development time, covered travel and accommodation and dedicated accessibility support built into the programme," continues the announcement.
"By removing practical and financial barriers to entry, Belfast XR Festival is working to ensure that the future of XR reflects a broader range of voices, lived experiences and creative leadership, which is essential if the sector is to grow in a fair, resilient and sustainable way."
Those interested can learn more about Amplify: XR Labs on the Belfast XR Festival website.
