Do you find yourself generating ideas that flit between the physical and virtual worlds? Are you mesmerised by the metaverse? Can you create truly innovative and immersive digital content that you believe should be experienced by a wider audience?
If the answers to those questions are yes, then it’s time for you to stretch the limits of your imagination and delve deeper into the metaverse by embarking on an ambitious digital immersive project in Saudi Arabia that has been labelled “a global showcase of Saudi innovation.”
The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) is inviting the Kingdom’s brightest and best minds to engage with the third edition of its Creative Solutions initiative.
Ithra, Saudi Arabia’s leading cultural and creative destination for talent development and cross-cultural experiences, has announced an open call for participants to submit proposals utilizing immersive technologies to the groundbreaking programme. Entrants must be citizens and residents of Saudi Arabia aged over 18 but hurry, the closing date for applications is April 12.
If successful, participants will enroll in a number of Masterclasses on Immersive Technology and Content Creation, to further crystalize their ideas and pitch in front of leading experts in the XR industry. The finalists of the program will receive a total fund of $100,000 as well as valuable mentorship over a four month development phase, which includes a technical track in collaboration with HOST Unity Centre of Excellence in Salford, England, plus an entrepreneurship track in collaboration with The Bakery, a London-based consultancy that creates and delivers corporate innovation programmes.
With a focus on STEAM learning and self-development, Ithra’s Creative Solutions initiative aims to build an ecosystem of innovators within the immersive community/industry such as virtual reality, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, mixed reality, haptics and immersive audio across sectors including education, healthcare, tourism, art, technology and gaming.
Designed to boost Saudi’s creative economy by empowering digital content creation, the latest crop of projects from the Creative Solutions program were chosen by an international panel of judges led by Bafta- and Emmy-winning immersive storyteller Kim-Leigh Pontin, whose credits include Marvel’s Eternals AR adventure, and Anne McKinnon, co-founder and CEO of metaverse platform Ristband.
During an inspiring and thought-provoking demo day at Ithra’s landmark HQ and also on a virtual platform, Ithra recently presented the Cycle 2 cohort that showcased 10 prototypes to potential investors. The third cycle of Ithra’s year-long Creative Solutions is now underway with a pledge mission to enrich, educate and inspire creative individuals.
Miznah Alzamil, Head of Creativity and Innovation at Ithra, said she was “proud and excited” of the participants’ contributions so far. “Immersive technologies have transformed how we work, play and communicate,” said Miznah.
“The top proposals that made it to prototype stage demonstrate the spirit of innovative thinking driving the creative economy forward and propelling us further into a future guided by the Kingdom’s talent.”
To submit a proposal to the Creative Solutions programme and to find more information on Ithra, visit www.ithra.com.