Arts and Creative Industries / Digital Arts / Help map the future of immersive arts in Southern Africa

Help map the future of immersive arts in Southern Africa

Arts and Creative Industries
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14 January

Are you a Mosotho transmedia artist, part of a Malawian immersive arts community, or an Mzansi-based immersive creator? Do you experiment with technologies like Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Mixed Reality (MR), 360° Video, Projection Mapping, Interactive Installations (using sensors or physical computing), Spatial Sound / 3D Audio, Web- or Mobile-based immersive experiences, Volumetric Capture, Photogrammetry, or Game Engines (such as Unity or Unreal Engine)?

Even if you don’t yet identify with terms like “immersive artist,” if the above describes your artistic practice, your perspective is vital.

We invite you to participate in the Futures Past: Immersive Arts Mapping Study – initiated by the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) in collaboration with Electric South and made possible thanks to funding from the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. This project seeks to map the immersive arts landscape and identify opportunities for growth, support, and collaboration across the region.

By sharing your experience, you’ll help inform strategies for funding, training, and infrastructure development to strengthen the immersive ecosystem in Southern Africa.

As a thank you for your time, one survey participant will be randomly selected to receive an honorarium of 2,000 ZAR.

Complete the survey here.

For those interested in contributing to a more in-depth conversation, we are also hosting focus groups and key interviews, in the following locations:

  • Maseru Lesotho: 26 November 2025
  • Johannesburg, South Africa: December 2025
  • Malawi: February 2026
  • Cape Town, South Africa: February 2026

Express your interest in a focus group or interview here.

This study embraces a broad definition of immersive arts – from interactive installations and spatial audio to web-based and sensory digital experiences. Your voice and practice, whether established or emerging, are exactly what we’re looking for.

Join us in shaping a more visible, connected, and supported future for creative innovation in Southern Africa.

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