The Awhi Incubator is a hub for boosting skills, increasing the visibility of Northland’s vibrant creative technology and cross-disciplinary art scene, and fostering connections between local artists and global networks.
The incubator encourages innovation in areas such as:
- Augmented Reality
- Virtual Reality
- Interactive Installations
- Eye-catching projection mapping
- E-textiles and Smart Materials
What will you get out of it?
On top of all that, the incubator also offers invaluable mentorship to guide you through some of the trickier areas of being a creative practitioner.
From navigating the marketing world to protecting your intellectual property and securing funding, you’ll have the support you need to realise your dreams. So don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity.
We will soon be accepting applications from creatives based in Te Tai Tokerau! If you have a passion for taking your projects to the next level, this is the perfect opportunity.
When can you apply?
The first call for expressions of interest for the Awhi Incubator is 6 – 24 April, with a decision in early May.
The program runs from June and will include free personalised coaching from experts, workshops, networking sessions, and opportunities to showcase your work.
Plus, there’s a chance to have your work featured in publications and labs starting this May/June.
AwhiWorld is excited to see the amazing projects that will come out of this program and hopes to help our community’s talented artists shine even brighter!
APPLICATIONS OPEN: APRIL 6 TO 24 APRIL
DECISION: 8TH MAY
FIRST LAB: 24 MAY TO 7 JUNE
FAQ
Creatives will be offered
- one-to-one mentoring and coaching sessions (with AwhiWorld staff or external providers)
- face-to-face and online group sessions and meetups
- specialist workshops (topics will designed for the cohort e.g. AR/VR, funding, brand management, IP, Arduino, e-textiles etc) that are stand-alone in community settings or part of a larger lab
- opportunities to be showcased in publications and media
As much as possible to get what you can out of it. We have some minimum attendance requirements. Contact us to find out more. For some people, a few individual coaching sessions and a workshop are all they need; others will benefit from attending as many individual and group coaching sessions plus workshops and labs as possible.
Yes. We can intensively support up to 15 people during our project period (and 5 of these places are reserved for representatives from community groups we are partnering with over the project period). That said, we will be holding some public workshops both online and in person, and our labs will have opportunities for creatives to participate who are not in the more intensive programme.
We have invited Te Tokerau community peers to review applications. This group includes representatives from local Toi Māori and creative technology communities. We are also partnering with Creative Northland to support the decision-making process, and support the project over the year
We ask that individuals adhere to a formal Participant Agreement which includes acknowledging our support and providing a workshop to share the aroha. Contact us for further information.
No. This is about sharing skills and knowledge, not giving you funding. We may be able to provide support for expenses like travel to workshops. This will be negotiated per person on a case-by-case basis, and you be paid after presenting an invoice and receipts. We may also pay experts to provide detailed support, guidance or training as needed and arranged.
Candidates should:
1) Be based in Te Tai Tokerau
2) Have a strong and recognised background in cross-disciplinary (e.g. science/art or tech/performance), digital arts or creative technology practice (demonstrated through exhibitions or performances)
OR a track record as a creative within one discipline but with a demonstrated interest in moving into a cross-disciplinary or tech-enabled approach
OR are aged 17 to 24 and keen to build a portfolio
OR are an employee of a GLAM organisation wanting to upskill
OR are a creative teacher or arts community leader wanting to enable themselves to enable others
3) Identify with and/or actively support a group, community or network (e.g. hapu/iwi, an organisation, an art association or a collective or particular demographic community)
4) Have a clear and realistic project idea or goal
A SPECIAL THANKS
We would like to take this opportunity to extend our gratitude to the Ministry for Culture and Heritage for their support in helping us bring our vision to life.
Our partnered organisations have been invaluable assets to our team, and we are incredibly grateful for their commitment to our mission. We could not have accomplished what we have without their help and support, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration for many years to come.
We also want to extend a special thank you to our wider Northland community. Your support, enthusiasm, and willingness have been a source of inspiration for us.
Need More information?
Check out these posts explaining who is involved and the story behind the project.
The Awhi Incubator Story
So how did we get here.... AwhiWorld have worked hard over the last five years to support Te Tai Tokerau's creative technology and cross-disciplinary arts scene. Both Dr Maggie Buxton and Kim Newall have dedicated a considerable amount of volunteer time and personal resources to raising the profile of this sector. Many individuals work in…
High Calibre Creative Technology Coaching
National and International Experts ready to support High-calibre coaching and mentoring staff are joining the Awhi Incubator to provide advice on running the project, delivering workshops and work one-to-one with participants. Working alongside core incubator staff Dr Maggie Buxton and Kim Newall, are a range of national and international experts in VR | AR |…
Introduction to Creative Technology Training – Far North
Creative Tech for Creatives AwhiWorld and Far North REAP are excited to partner on an initiative to build creative technology capacity in the arts via an Introduction to Creative Technology Training Workshop. Part of the Awhi Incubator project, the Introduction to Creative Technology workshop targets artists and creatives who want to work creatively with technology…
Strategic Partners Announced for Incubator
Organisational Partners Line up to Support AwhiWorld is excited to announce the organisational partners lined up to support the Awhi Incubator. The project aims to raise the profile of creative technology, digital art and cross-disciplinary practice in Te Tai Tokerau. With that in mind, we have worked hard to secure key local, national and international…
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