The PHI Immersive Residency is an eight-week program with PHI Studio in Montréal (Canada) focused on the development stage of a proposed project. Selected artist(s) will work alongside PHI Studio experts to conceptualize, plan, and prototype an interactive artwork or immersive experience. The selected project will receive personalized support, space, and select resources to develop and elaborate their concept within a broader context and create a prototype to prepare the project for eventual production and financial investment.
Crow Castle is a VR experience centered on the story of a young boy. Since his parents raised him with two different names, he has become two. At least, that's what he tells us. In truth, the boy has created a second identity to avoid the traumas he has endured. To separate what he remembers of the past, the boy builds a palace of memories, "his own little Crow Castle," where pictures can be sewn into whatever he chooses.
The memory palace has been created in the shape of a summer house that the boy’s mother and her friends used to rent from a man who may or may not have been a pedophile. As we explore the house, we get familiar with the characters that used to inhabit the Crow Castle. At first, these characters are presented as being double-sided and untrustworthy, but the deeper down in the palace we get, we realize that we can’t always trust what parts of the memory palace are real memories and what parts are tools for the boy to remember something else.
As the experience unfolds the participant will travel further and further into the boy’s subconscious and encounter parts of the palace where spirits and demons lure in the walls.
Myriam Achard is the voice and face of PHI internationally. Her mission is twofold: to promote the development of local and international artistic avant-garde, while paving the way for new creators. Since 2006, she has worked with Phoebe Greenberg to promote PHI's creative impulse, driven by an ambitious message: to develop and promote artistic innovation in the world. Thanks to its efforts, the group today occupies a prominent place in the artistic avant-garde, both as producer and distributor. PHI exports its creative impulse to three continents, from New York to Tokyo, via Venice. As head of new media partnerships and public relations, Myriam Achard travels the world in search of the most innovative and immersive works in order to present them in Montreal.
Location
Montréal, Québec (Canada)
PHI Immersive Residency program (8 weeks)
→ Call for Proposals: October 4 to November 3, 2022
→ Public announcement of the selected project: January 2023
→ Residency Period: January 30, 2023 to March 24, 2023
Contact
For more information, please contact [email protected].
Positioned at the intersection of art and technology, PHI Studio develops and presents collective experiences centered around audience interactivity. PHI Immersive Residency is an annual residency program that offers the opportunity to conceptualize and prototype a new immersive or interactive artwork with the world-class PHI Studio team. This residency is part of PHI’s continued effort to contribute to the development of future generations of immersive storytellers.
Local and international artists or small production companies with established or emerging careers are encouraged to apply. Through PHI Immersive Residency, PHI aims to invest in incredible artists with incredible ideas and contribute to the growing global field of new media art and experiences.
The PHI Immersive residency program does not include financial funding grants for artists. PHI Immersive is a residency where the support provided comes via access to mentors, facilities, expertise, and networks. If you are applying for external funding or bursaries, we are happy to help with any official documentation that you might need.
Mandate
What kind of projects are we looking for?
Artists are asked to submit a proposal for artwork including but not limited to:
• New media or interactive installations;
• Immersivity;
• Extended Realities : Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Mixed Reality;
• AI driven projects;
• Immersive sound or audio.
We are looking for technologically driven innovative artistic projects with strong storylines and narratives.
Devoted to the conceptualization stage of the project, selected artists participating in PHI Immersive Residency will receive:
• Personalized support (workshops, one-on-one consultations) from the PHI Studio team over the eight-week residency period:
• Conceptual and creative support;
• Programming and development support.
• Technical support;
• Production support;
• Design and scenography support.
• Access to the following PHI Studio facilities: PHI’s XR equipment ; PHI’s sound recording and editing studio and sound engineer; access to PHI's offices and administrative spaces.
• Promotional support of the final presentation across PHI networks;
• Access to PHI’s vast network of collaborators;
• Production of a short video profile to support next-stage financing of the project.
The artist(s) will retain the Intellectual Property of their project, but PHI might ask for the first option for co-production, distribution, or exhibition.
Eligibility Requirements
• Local and international artists or small production companies with established or emerging careers are encouraged to apply;
• Artists are asked to submit a proposal for artwork including, but not limited to: new media or interactive installations, immersivity, extended realities (virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality), ai driven projects, immersive sound or audio;
• Groups and collectives of artists are eligible (up to 4 members), the conditions offered remain the same.
Selection Process
The selection will be undertaken by a committee composed of PHI staff and invited external professionals and peers who reflect a diverse set of expertise and perspectives.
Applications will be assessed according to the following criteria:
• The originality of the project and narrative, its contribution to the diversity of creation, its conceptual and technical rigour and innovation (50%);
• Feasibility of the project from conceptualizing to prototyping to production stages and the technical and budgetary practicality of the proposed project (30%);
• History of executed works and portfolio (20%).
PHI is committed to equity in all its forms.
PHI Studio Team
The PHI Studio team is comprised of strategists, artistic directors, creative developers, technologists, designers, and exhibition designers.
International applicants are eligible to apply but must relocate to Montréal, Canada, for the duration of the 8-week residency (January 30, 2023 to March 24, 2023).
Lodging and travel are not provided as part of the residency. International artists and collectives are responsible for securing their working permits and other travel documentation if applicable.
International artists are responsible for researching and obtaining the necessary travel documents, vaccination records, and/or working permits for their time in Montréal, depending on the status of the applicant. PHI can provide letters of confirmation to aid with this process.
PHI will offer no funding, but that does not prevent you from seeking additional funding elsewhere to support your costs. We can provide official documentation to help you in your applications for funding.
Our goal is to provide all the necessary tools to maximize the potential of a piece, this entails validating all the working hypotheses, and effectuating the steps necessary to bring your project to production. You will have access to the PHI Studio’s entire team, and we will adapt our resources to develop your project and bring your ideas to fruition, ready for proper financing.
We reserve the option to produce the piece if it aligns with PHI’s global vision and strategy.
No, the artist will retain the Intellectual Property of their project, but PHI could request the first option for co-production, distribution, or exhibition.
Yes, we encourage artists with a strong concept or idea looking to transition their practice into an immersive environment. We are looking for an innovative storyline and story world.
To get the most out of your experience we suggest you reserve between 20-30 hours minimum per week for work on your project.
Yes, we have working spaces available.
No, we don't expect any project to have one singular space in mind.
Absolutely, there will be the possibility of borrowing some PHI equipment during the residency period depending on the availability.
The PHI spaces are partially accessible for those with reduced mobility, although additional assistance may be required and can be arranged with artists who require it.
Yes! If you have further questions about the application process, selection process and the PHI Immersive Residency as a whole, we invite you to attend one of our 30 minutes Q+A sessions:
→ Q&A online session in French only, 30 minutes via Zoom: October 19, 2022 at 11 am EST
→ Q&A online session in English only, 30 minutes via Zoom: October 20, 2022 at 11 am EST
To attend, please click on the link at the time of the corresponding session above. We invite you to email your questions beforehand and, if you have questions beyond this, or cannot attend the session, simply direct your questions to [email protected].
There is no application fee.
Already completed projects are not eligible for this residency. Your proposed project may be a continuation of a past series, but must integrate new elements to be workshopped during the residency period.
We highly recommend that an artist focus on one single project application, to submit the best of this work.
Yes; all participating artists will be asked to sign a Letter of Agreement with PHI.
Applicants may voluntarily add their date of births into the Voluntary Self-Declaration section of the application. This is not required, but helps us assess the diverse age range of the artists applying for residency.
The residency begins on January 30, 2023 and ends on March 24, 2023.
Yes, collectives consisting of up to 4 members are eligible to apply for the residency.
All applicants are notified once the selection process is complete.
