On 26 and 27 February 2026, the Futures_Past: Amplifying Memory with Immersive Technologies cohort gathered in Johannesburg for a two-day programme hosted by the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) and Electric South. Bringing together artist teams, emerging producers and archive representatives in one space, the sessions marked a key moment as the project moves towards its production phase.
Led by Canda Kincses, with support from Mélissa Dusart, the programme created space for in-person exchange, discussion and practical collaboration across the cohort, with a dedicated focus on supporting the emerging producers in each team. Workshops by Michael Balkind, Ulrico Grech-Cumbo and Nerushka Bowen and others, as well as participation in the WeAReVR monthly meetup connected participants to Johannesburg’s wider immersive ecosystem.
This gathering also marked the launch of the project’s integrated training and capacity building programme for emerging producers, which will continue over the coming year through bi-weekly online webinars with local and international experts.
Futures_Past: Amplifying Memory with Immersive Technologies is an initiative of the Embassy of France in South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) in partnership with Electric South. This project is made possible thanks to funding from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
Read more about the project teams here.
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