Creative Futures

Absolutely. The program has been designed specifically to support artists and creative practitioners who are expanding their practice into immersive, spatial and interactive work. We are looking for creative potential, curiosity, ambition and a willingness to learn, not technical mastery. Many successful applicants may be engaging with immersive technologies for the first time. We also welcome applications from artists at different stages of their careers, from emerging practitioners to more established artists seeking to explore new directions in their practice.

Each selected participant will receive a $25,000 artist commission to support the development and delivery of their AWAKEN project. The commission is intended to recognise the artist’s time, creative development, research, project delivery and contribution to the program. Participants will also receive mentorship, creative development opportunities, technical training and production support throughout the program.

The AWAKEN opportunity includes dedicated program funding for technical production, enabling participants to access specialist expertise, equipment, installation and technical support required to realise their work for exhibition on ECU City’s Forum Screen.

If selected, the $25,000 commission will be paid in installments linked to key project milestones. If tax is required to be deducted or withheld, the participant will receive a net-of-tax payment. Further details, including payment schedules and commissioning requirements, will be provided as part of the legal agreement.

Six practitioners or creative teams will be selected to participate in the program and receive a paid commission.

Yes. The program is open to artists and creative practitioners from across metropolitan and regional Western Australia. ECU is committed to supporting regional participation and welcomes applications from regional and remote practitioners.

Yes. ECU is committed to supporting regional participation and has indicated that travel and accommodation assistance may be provided where appropriate, helping to ensure geographic location is not a barrier to participation.

The program runs over twelve months, with the primary development and production phase requiring an average commitment of approximately 12-14 hours per week across the residency period.

Yes. Applications are welcome from both individual practitioners and collaborative teams.

Creative practitioners will retain ownership of their original digital and physical artworks and associated copyright.

As part of the program, participants will grant ECU an exclusive, royalty-free license to reproduce, publish, communicate and display images, recordings and documentation of the artwork for agreed program purposes. These purposes may include exhibition, promotion, education, reporting, evaluation, archiving, and inclusion within ECU’s digital platforms and Community Digital Gallery.

ECU is committed to recognising and protecting creative practitioner’s moral rights, including appropriate attribution and the integrity of the work. Any use of the artwork beyond the agreed program purposes will require the practitioner’s prior written consent.

Where projects incorporate Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP), practitioners must ensure appropriate cultural protocols, permissions and permissions are observed. ICIP rights remain with the relevant Traditional Owners, custodians and knowledge holders.

Full details relating to ownership, licensing, attribution, moral rights and ICIP will be outlined in the agreement.

AWAKEN program participants receive a comprehensive package of creative, technical and professional support, including:

• A paid commission
• Mentorship and creative development support
• Technical production support
• Access to ECU City’s CreatorsLAB facilities and technologies
• Opportunities to work with immersive and real-time
• production workflows
• Creative and production intensives and workshops
• Access to the Forum Screen for testing and exhibition
• Public presentation opportunities
• Documentation and future pathway development support

The program is based at ECU City in Perth, with program participants working from ECU City’s CreatorsLAB and utilising the Forum Screen and associated digital infrastructure like the programmable Façade. Some activities may be delivered online where appropriate.