Welcome to the last XR Stories and XR Network+ newsletter of 2024! In this issue, read the highlights from an action-packed year at XR Stories, find out about a partnership that is fostering creativity, and watch a performance to showcase a new tool for remote dance composition and collaboration, developed with support from XR Network+.
A creative and immersive year
During the last year, the XR Stories team has helped SMEs, freelancers and University of York researchers working in digital and creative technologies to unleash their full potential. The XR Stories 2024 roundup captures highlights from a creative and immersive year including residencies, research projects, cultural festivals and collaborations.
A long-term partnership between XR Stories, the University of York and Viridian FX is fostering creativity and collaboration in academia and industry. One of the leading visual effects houses in the North of England, Viridian FX works on feature films and series for all the major studios including Netflix, HBO, Apple TV and Paramount.
This month's roundup includes an opportunity to become a researcher-in-residence with BBC Radio 4, funding for R&D projects that provide digital therapeutics for mental health solutions, and the Innovate UK Collaborative R&D Creative Catalyst - with grants for UK businesses to develop innovative products for the creative industries.
At last month's Beyond, XR Network+ presented panel sessions on EDI in the virtual production industry, and the role of immersive technology for the future of live performance. The project also presented a live performance that showcased a new tool for remote dance collaboration and co-creation, supported by XR Network+. Image credit to Beyond.
On 12 February 2025, join us at UAL to hear updates from XR Network+, UAL and CoSTAR, and experience UAL's specialist XR research lab. The event also provides an opportunity to connect with researchers and businesses working in extended reality and virtual production technologies.
Critical Sustainability Stories (CRISS) is an educational tool for storytellers wanting to examine sustainability and climate change in an informed, evidenced-based way. The CRISS website hosts an interactive CRISS tool for users to engage with and advance their climate content storytelling skills.
A submission from XR Stories, XR Network+ and the University of York has recently been published as part of the House of Lords Communications and Digital Select Committee inquiry on Scaling Up: AI and creative technologies. The inquiry seeks to understand barriers facing SMEs and propose changes to Government and industry practices that can be delivered over the next five years.
Dan Norman from XR Stories talks to Sarah Ticho, creator and co-producer of Soul Paint, an award-winning immersive experience that takes audiences on a journey to explore and creatively express emotional and physical sensations in the body. Soul Paint exists at the heart of immersive technology, creative storytelling and wellbeing to explore the richness of the embodied human experience.
.png?upscale=true&width=290&upscale=true&name=XR%20Stories%20logo%20(black).png)
