Open call for archival and cultural institutions: Bring your archives to life through immersive storytelling

Deadline: 12 August 2025

The Embassy of France in South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi, with the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) and in partnership with Electric South, invites applications from archival and cultural institutions in South Africa, Malawi, and Lesotho to take part in a major new initiative that reimagines the future of heritage through immersive storytelling.

About the project:

Futures_Past: Amplifying Memory with Immersive Technologies is a two-year initiative (July 2025 – March 2027) that supports archival and cultural institutions in South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi to explore new ways of engaging the public through immersive storytelling. The project focuses on reanimating archival collections using digital formats such as virtual and augmented reality, spatial audio, and interactive installations.

The aim is to strengthen public access to heritage by developing creative partnerships, building professional networks, and supporting the production of innovative digital works rooted in historical and cultural archives.

The project has three core components:

• A sector mapping and policy study on immersive arts in South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi, with input from regional stakeholders and French experts;
• A mobility and networking programme in France enabling 10–20 professionals, including archivists and curators, to connect with immersive arts institutions and festivals;
• The creation of six original immersive digital works, based on archival collections from selected institutions and developed by creative teams through open calls.

This initiative responds to regional challenges such as limited access to digitisation tools, difficulty reaching digital-first audiences, and the urgent need to make collections more visible, relevant, and accessible.

Initiated by the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) with the funding of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and implemented by Electric South, Futures_Past contributes to the long-term sustainability of the heritage sector while fostering inclusive, cross-border collaboration and innovation.

Call for expressions of interest:

Futures_Past now invites archival and cultural institutions across South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi to participate by nominating a collection or body of material to be brought to life through immersive storytelling.

Selected institutions will be paired with leading immersive creators who will explore new ways to reinterpret and present these collections to the public. Institutions will provide free and open access to materials and help contextualise them, while creative teams will lead the artistic development and production process.

This is a unique opportunity to explore how immersive formats, such as virtual and augmented reality, spatial audio, and interactive installations, can engage new audiences and surface fresh perspectives on historical, cultural, or community-based archives.

Who should apply?

We invite applications from public and private museums, archives, cultural centres, libraries, heritage institutions, and universities or research organisations based in South Africa, Lesotho, or Malawi that:

• Hold cultural, historical, or community-based archives or collections;
• Are committed to public engagement and innovative storytelling;
• Are open to freely sharing access to a proposed collection for creative reinterpretation (note: no licensing or access fees will be covered by the project);
• Are open to negotiating with immersive artists on a production and distribution agreement;
• Are willing to host an exhibition of the final work by providing a venue, marketing, staffing, and on-site coordination, while the project provides the artwork, equipment, training and installation;
• Are open to digitisation and reinterpretation of archival content as part of a creative process;
• Are enthusiastic about international cooperation, including potential collaboration with French creative studios, cultural organisations, or institutions.

No prior experience in immersive media is required. Institutions will receive full support throughout the process and will be paired with experienced immersive creators. Institutions will also be supported in the exhibition of the work. Projects may involve French co-production partners where appropriate, creating additional opportunities for long-term collaboration and global exposure.

Why apply?

This is an opportunity to:

• Partner with immersive artists and producers to create original digital works rooted in your archives
• Digitally activate your collections and explore new ways to reach and engage the public
• Showcase your institutions in new exhibitions with an international echo/footprint
• Gain visibility and build capacity in the growing field of digital and immersive storytelling
• Take part in a tailored mobility programme to France, with one institutional representative selected for a professional exchange with immersive studios, museums, and cultural events.

What to expect:

• Six institutions will be selected through this call and matched with six creative teams (to be selected through a separate open call once institutions are confirmed).
• The project provides a dedicated production budget to support the development of immersive digital artworks inspired by the selected archival collections.
• Each final artwork will be exhibited at the participating institution, with the project covering the creation, installation, and technical setup of the artwork.
• All immersive works developed through the Futures_Past project will be created with deep respect for the integrity, context, and cultural significance of the archival materials shared. Institutions are expected to offer support for exhibitions, such as a venue, basic staffing, coordination, and communications. In some cases, financial contributions may also be requested, depending on the context.
• One representative from each institution will take part in the mobility programme to France, including site visits to museums, immersive studios, archives, and key industry events.

Apply now!

Applicants will be asked to submit:

• A brief institutional profile
• A short description of the proposed collection or archival material
• A statement of interest, outlining what you hope to gain from the project and to what extent your institution is able to co-support and/or co-finance the production or exhibition phase
• The name and contact details of a designated project lead
• A letter of commitment from your institution’s leadership

Submit your application by 12 August 2025 to: info@electricsouth.org
For questions or more information, also contact: info@electricsouth.org.

Project timeline:

July – November 2025

• Open call and selection of 6 institutions and 6 creative teams
  

November 2025 – November 2026

• Development and co-production of immersive digital works
• Professional mobility programme to France, including institutional representatives
  

August 2026 – February 2027

• Public exhibitions of completed immersive works in South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi

Governance and steering committee

The Futures_Past project is overseen by a Steering Committee comprising representatives from:

• National and local governments in the culture, heritage, and digital sectors
• Archival and museum institutions across the three countries
• Creative industry leaders and immersive arts practitioners
• Academic and research organisations
• French and Southern African project partners, including IFAS and Electric South

The Steering Committee meets biannually to guide strategic direction, review progress, and ensure the project remains responsive to sectoral needs. This inclusive governance model strengthens accountability and supports the sustainable development of immersive heritage practice in the region.

About the French Institute of South Africa

The French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), the cultural arm of the French Embassy, has supported creative cooperation between South Africa, France, and the continent since 1995. With a growing portfolio in the heritage and archiving space, IFAS has played a key role in major regional initiatives aimed at safeguarding memory and advancing access to historical resources. Notable projects include the digitisation of the Rivonia Trial tapes in partnership with South African institutions and France’s National Audiovisual Institute (INA), as well as cooperation with the Morija Museum & Archives in Lesotho to preserve shared histories and digitise valuable collections. Recently, IFAS co-hosted the regional seminar Advancing Audiovisual Heritage: Policy, Practice, and Cross-Border Partnerships in Cape Town with INA and the Agence française de développement (AFD). This seminar formed part of the broader Unboxing Mayibuye programme, which also included a regional mapping study and a professional training course on managing audiovisual archives. 

About Electric South

Electric South is a non-profit based in Cape Town, South Africa. The organisation contributes to building a robust storytelling ecosystem in Africa, grounded in immersive and interactive technologies. Committed to industry development, Electric South creates opportunities and resources for African artists and creative technologists through mentorship, workshops and labs, including the flagship New Dimensions Lab, project funding, convenings, research, advocacy and field building. Electric South works with the ecosystem of African creators, industry, civil society, and governments, bridging these diverse sectors to create an enabling environment for artists and technologists and to reshape the trajectory of emerging technologies. Immersive projects produced with the support of Electric South have won numerous awards and been exhibited all over the world including at Sundance, Venice and IDFA DocLab. 

Download the press release here.