Photo: Aabijijiwan New Media Lab houses four digital media labs each with a specific production focus – sound, projection, virtual reality (VR), animation and video – and a collaborative interactive studio space for engagement between these mediums.
One of the areas our project specifically wanted to study was the opportunities for cultural and digital entrepreneurship using augmented and virtual reality. Unfortunately, at the beginning of our project, both of those areas were difficult to explore as a group due to pandemic-related restrictions.
This June, we were finally able to come together as a full group and visit the Aabijijiwan New Media Lab at the University of Winnipeg.
Aabijijiwan New Media Lab houses four digital media labs each with a specific production focus – sound, projection, virtual reality (VR), animation and video – and a collaborative interactive studio space for engagement between these mediums, as well as a collaborative space for workshops, intergenerational gatherings, dialogues, and work with older media, such as sewing, caribou hide tufting, beading, and other materials.
For our project, the most important and interesting areas were being able to learn how they set up their green screens and studio space. As we prepare to exit the experimental and design phase of our own incubator project, being able to actually go into a working studio as a group made an incredible difference. Most of us have been at home for two years and just couldn’t take part in, or even visit other studies and spaces for activities like this.
We thank Dr. Julie Nagam and Dr. Heather Igloliorte and all of the amazing artists at the Aabijijiwan New Media Lab for opening their doors, and for the opportunity for us to get hands-on in the terrific environment they have built. This experience will help us as we continue to explore using digital tools to support future training.
The green screen was really amazing.
This experimental pilot program was made possible with financial investment from the following organizations and we gratefully acknowledge their encouragement and support.
