A&D Graduate Winner of the 360 VISION: Virtual Reality Development Initiative 2017

The successful applicants for Create NSW's first Virtual Reality funding initiative have been announced. The 360 VISION: Virtual Reality Development Initiative for the Arts 2017 was initiated to provide funding for artists and cultural practitioners to develop and extend their audiences through immersive arts in the field of Virtual Reality (VR).

Two pools of money, totaling $240,000, have been made available to support creative practitioners across the fields of performing arts, visual arts, museums, music and literature.

UNSW Art & Design graduate and Visting Fellow, Dr Josh Harle has won a grant of $19,710. Working with Jason Wing and fellow graduates, Alex Seton, John A Douglas, and Joan Ross, this funding will enable Harle's digital media and VR studio, Tactical Space Lab, to introduce artists and audiences to emerging technologies and develop new works. Learning will be shared through open studios, talks and presentations, workshops, an exhibition and an online archive.

Michael Brealey, CEO of Create NSW, said: “360 Vision was incredibly successful last year, bringing together some of Australia’s most visionary creative thinkers from the screen and technology sectors. It’s thrilling to have forged ahead with a second event in 2017 and for Screen NSW to be taking the lead, in partnership with the ABC, Screen Australia, City of Sydney and AFTRS in this exciting new area of visual story telling.

“This year, the establishment of Create NSW also provides the opportunity for artists outside the screen industry to engage with VR opportunities and we are looking to identify and develop a number of projects over the coming year.”

David Anderson, Director of ABC TV, said: “As the independent source of Australian conversations, stories, and culture, the ABC is proud to be partnering with Create NSW to provide opportunities for Australian content makers to experiment with the power and possibilities of virtual reality.”