Open call: New Dimensions Lab 2025 in SA

The Lab brings together African artists and creative technologists to develop nonfiction stories told through XR (Extended Reality) technologies. The programme will run from 7 to 14 December 2025 in South Africa and will feature discussions, masterclasses, and project workshops with industry advisors.

Over the years, the Lab has hosted advisors such as Yasmin Elayat, Kamal Sinclair, Sarah Ellis, Saschka Unseld, Ulrico Grech-Cumbo, Brian Afande, Tamara Shogaolu, Dale Deacon, Rick Treweek, Darren Emerson and Jessica Brillhart. For this edition, selected advisors will again cover social XR experience design. Applications are encouraged from artists working on XR nonfiction stories that aim for social impact, as well as other creative nonfiction approaches incorporating VR, AR, or both.

The Lab seeks applicants who are collaborative, experimental, and have a strong portfolio of past work. Artists from a wide range of disciplines are welcome, including film, theatre, fine arts, photography, creative technology, game design and performance.

Applicants may apply with or without a producer and team, though only the project director will attend the Lab. Travel, visa costs, accommodation and meals for one person per project will be covered by Electric South. Following the residency, Electric South may award two projects with $20 000 each to support completion.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be citizens or permanent residents of an African country;
• Be currently living on the African continent;
• Be accomplished in any artistic field, including but not limited to documentary and fiction film, theatre, visual arts, photography, design, creative technology, and game development;
• Be able to travel from and return to an airport in an African country.

Application requirements

The application form asks applicants to:

• Outline their interest in the Lab and what they hope to learn;
• Provide details of their XR project;
• Describe their creative practice and past experience;
• Submit creative concept materials, such as links to visual or audio references, mood boards or compilations of work that illustrate their aesthetic approach.

Project criteria

Projects must:

• Be nonfiction stories, including creative interpretations of documentaries or hybrid works;
• Explore social XR experiences and/or projects that aim for real-world impact;
• Use immersive technologies such as VR or AR. This may include methods like volumetric capture, photogrammetry, artificial intelligence, game engines, social worldbuilding, 360 film, animation, projection mapping, or hybrid forms.

Applications must be submitted here before 17 September 2025 at 23:59 SAST.

About the Lab

The New Dimensions Lab supports African artists and creative technologists working at an advanced level who wish to explore the intersection of storytelling and technology. Participants will receive one-on-one mentorship from immersive storytelling advisors and creative technologists. The programme provides an environment for experimentation with XR tools and is designed to help participants refine their project concepts into a fully realised idea and pitch deck for further resource mobilisation.

View the original call here.