Futures_Past teams explore co-production and distribution pathways in France

From 8 to 14 April 2026, the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) led a mobility programme in France as part of Futures_Past: Amplifying Memory with Immersive Technologies, bringing together 18 archivists, immersive arts directors, and producers from six Southern African projects.

Travelling across Paris, Lille, Marseille and Nantes, participants took part in site visits, professional meetings and working sessions, presenting and sharing their work with French partners. They engaged with major cultural institutions including the Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, the Musée de l’Homme, MUCEM and Louvre-Lens, as well as industry platforms such as NewImages and the Journées de l’Immersif.

The programme created a two-way exchange between Southern African and French practitioners, connecting project teams with potential co-producers and distribution partners, while also opening space to share approaches to immersive heritage and digital storytelling. These engagements mark a step toward future collaborations between Southern Africa and France and form part of the broader Futures_Past process, which will culminate in a series of immersive exhibitions across the region from September 2026.

Read more about the Futures_Past teams here.

Futures_Past: Amplifying Memory with Immersive Technologies is a collaborative initiative organised by the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) in partnership with Electric South, supported by the Embassy of France in South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi, and funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.