An ambitious new XR training initiative is set to boost skills development across Northern Ireland’s creative industries in 2025.
XR Innovate will offer a dynamic, free programme of immersive technology training designed to empower filmmakers, producers, artists and creatives with the tools, confidence and expertise to embrace the future of storytelling.
Delivered through a series of industry-led masterclasses, hands-on workshops, and an intensive development lab, XR Innovate is tailored to support both established professionals and those curious about exploring extended reality (XR) for the first time.
Industry Masterclasses
XR Innovate kicks off with a programme of five thought-provoking masterclasses led by leading XR creatives from across the UK and Ireland. These hybrid online and in-person events will spotlight innovative immersive projects and push the boundaries of what’s possible in storytelling, audio, and accessibility.
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Shifting Screens: The Future of Immersive
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Hearing the Space: Spatial Audio in XR
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Directing the Invisible: Crafting Stories in XR
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Access All Realities: Equity and Representation in XR
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Navigating MR/AR Creatively
Each session will ignite ideas and inspire participants to harness immersive technology in new and exciting ways.
Industry experts include XR filmmaker Dee Harvey, XRDI (XR Diversity Initiative), immersive experience creators DARKFIELD, creative producer/director Victoria Eyton, art collective Marshmallow Laser Feast, animation/design studio Boom Clap Play, Olivier and Tony Award-winning sound designer Gareth Fry and more.
Immersive Producer Victoria Eyton and Sound Designer Gareth Fry
Training Sessions
Creatives ready to get practical will benefit from five full-day training workshops delivered online and at venues across the region. Facilitated by XR professionals at the forefront of the sector, these sessions will introduce participants to production techniques and tools such as:
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Unity/Unreal games engines
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Photogrammetry
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Spatial audio
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Motion capture
Participants will gain essential technical and creative skills to confidently navigate the XR landscape.
Dates and facilitators to be announced soon.
Development Lab
XR Innovate will culminate in a three-day development lab, offering selected participants the opportunity to develop immersive prototypes and creative outputs. Led by industry experts, the lab will guide creatives from initial concept to development, with a focus on distribution, audience engagement, commercialisation, and collaboration.
This immersive lab is open to participants who have actively taken part in the masterclasses and training workshops, ensuring they’re equipped with the knowledge and experience to bring their ideas to life.
Dates and facilitators to be announced soon.
Who Can Apply?
XR Innovate welcomes applications from:
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Professionals from the screen industries seeking to transition into immersive
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Artists and creatives eager to explore XR within their practice
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Students and graduates looking to gain real-world XR production skills
Whether you’re looking to develop new storytelling techniques or explore the commercial potential of immersive content, XR Innovate provides an inspiring gateway into the future of creative technology.
The XR Innovate programme is funded by Northern Ireland Screen, supported by the BFI and The National Lottery.
Keep up to date with future activity via the XR Innovate webpage.
