THE FREEDOM PROJECT is Looking for Artists

Poster by Eliza Wierwight

The Freedom Project is a 2D/3D Art & Film Event organized jointly by the University of Western Australia, along with members of the Virtual Ability group, and the Centre for ME/CFS and Other Invisible Illnesses* group in Second Life. We are calling for artists and film makers from all over the world who self-identify as having a disability or a chronic illness, to create an artwork or a film/machinima on the theme of ‘Freedom’, showing how virtual worlds have in some way helped them or those around them.

Films and artwork can be submitted anytime between the 1st of September 2013 and the 28th of February 2014. Artwork should have no more than 200 prims, and films should be around 3-5 minutes (though no hard limits on film length will be enforced). Artwork will go on display immediately at the UWA Virtual Gallery, and films will be put on the UWA Second Life Blog (www.uwainsl.blogspot.com)

THEME
The theme is ‘FREEDOM’, and we would like to show artworks and films that represent how the virtual world has helped you or those around you.

WHY THIS THEME?
Along with your entry, we would like you (optionally) to tell us in 100-300 words how the virtual world has assisted you and/or those around you, has helped create community, or has helped you to transcend difficulties and challenges real life has posed. At the end of the event, some submissions will be selected by a panel to go into a journal to be available on the web and in print. We hope that the journal, along with all the artwork, machinima, and stories, will inspire others, and will demonstrate how virtual worlds can be used to help some people who may have had difficulties finding other means to express themselves, to believe in themselves more, or to connect with others.

The Kick-off Event at UWA

IS THIS A COMPETITION?
No.  However as a token of our appreciation, the organizers are providing a L$10,000 award to 10 artworks or films (to be selected by a panel). The selected artists will also receive a printed copy of the online journal. If more funding is secured, we hope to extend this benefit to all artists selected for the journal. (Films/machinima will be depicted with stills and a link).

I should add that the contributions can be collaborative works too. Artists should think about a story they might want to tell.

If you want to learn more about the project, follow this link.