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Hi! We are The EdUHK Mixed Realities Art Lab (MReAL), a part of the Research Centre of Creative Arts and Public Values (RCCAPV). MReAL is a 21st-century virtual artist-in-residence programme designed to bring together practice-based researchers from around the globe to engage in design thinking in response to global challenges related to the SDGs.

 

A pilot project during the first phase of the RCCAPV’s existence, the EdUHK Mixed Realities Art Lab will recruit 6 local/international artists in Virtual Residence (AiVR) twice a year to engage in virtual collaborations. Their activity will span 10 weeks and will involve design thinking in response to grand challenges.

What we want to do:

  1. We are seeking 6 artists with Global South backgrounds (preferably with experience as VR creators) to join our virtual residence in April to May, 2026.  

  2. Artists are expected to develop a virtual art project on the theme of Alternative Futurism (e.g., Afro-futurism, Gulf-futurism, Sino-futurism etc). 

  3. Artists are expected to collaborate virtually for a minimum of 2 hours per week, and to devote additional time to their mixed realities projects each week.

What we are looking for:

  1. Critical and Creative Engagement with Technology. Artists who question dominant tech narratives, address how digital systems perpetuate colonialism and bias, innovate resourcefully within real constraints (limited resources, accessibility challenges), and imagine alternative technological futures that serve communities more justly.

  2. Powerful Storytelling Grounded in Local Context. Artists who create immersive experiences rooted in their community's own storytelling traditions, balance educational content with emotional resonance, address urgent social and environmental issues facing their communities, and demonstrate sophisticated artistic vision that resists stereotypes and embraces complexity.

  3. Community-centered Practice and Cultural Integrity. Artists who are committed to shaping their community's narratives, work in genuine partnership with community members and knowledge keepers, ensure communities benefit materially and culturally, and see their work as part of broader collective movements—not just individual artistic achievement.

  4. Accessibility, Language Justice, and Sustainable Distribution. Artists who think critically about who can access their work, create in their own language(s) rather than defaulting to English, develop for accessible platforms (mobile-first, web-based, in-person), and consider how work will be sustained and reach communities beyond initial exhibition.

  5. Ethical Stewardship and Institutional Critique. Artists who develop clear ethical frameworks for engaging with sensitive, sacred, or traumatic content; practice informed consent with affected communities; question traditional funding models and institutional gatekeeping; and imagine alternative ways of valuing and supporting artistic work.

  6. South-South Collaboration and Network Building. Artists who participate in or build networks with other Global South creators, contribute to knowledge-sharing and mentorship within artistic communities, engage in cross-regional exchange, and strengthen ecosystems of mutual support among Global South practitioners.

What we can offer:

  1. Genuine partnership and respect for artistic autonomy.

  2. Artists will receive a stipend of HK$ 8,000 (approximately USD 1,020) for the entire residency to support artists to develop creative virtual art projects related to our themes. 

  3. Skills-based training related to selected platforms and tools. 

  4. A virtual exhibition via VRChat (or equivalent platforms) and a physical exhibition catalogue will be produced by the Research Centre, in support of the AiVR participants’ collaborative work.

How to Apply:

Please submit your

1) CV and portfolio (VR-related works preferred);

2) A 500-1000 words proposal and/or 5 page sketch on the theme of Alternative Futurism (e.g., Afro-futurism, Gulf-futurism, Sino-futurism etc), explaining your ideas and plans covering but not limited to the following points:

  • Artist/project statement (no more than 300 words) on your vision and why it matters to your community;

  • Links to examples of your work;

  • How you would use this support;

  • Information about collaborators and communities involved.​

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We Especially Welcome:

  • Artists from Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, Middle East

  • Indigenous and First Nations artists;

  • Artists from marginalized communities;

  • Early-stage practitioners;

  • Collective and community-based projects.​

What We're NOT Looking For:

  • Work that reproduces colonial stereotypes about the Global South;

  • Art primarily designed to appeal to Global North audiences;

  • Projects that extract from communities without consent or benefit;

  • Work treating immersive technology as an end in itself.

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First Round Deadline: 1st January 2026

Result Announcement: Mid-February 2026

Questions?

We're committed to making this process accessible. Please reach out with questions.

For submission and inquires: Please send all files to: rccapv@eduhk.hk 

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