This new grant was created to connect artists with fans by live-streaming gigs in virtual reality.
Following an incredibly tough year for the music industry, the future of the live music experience we all know and love looks set to change forever, with live 3D virtual reality (VR) streaming platform Inverse partnering with Music Victoria and the Victorian Music Development Office to export Victoria’s music talent to the world through immersive technology.
The key takeaways
- Live-streaming gigs in virtual reality is set to be the way of the future
- The industry grant that looks to offer Victorian musicians the chance to connect with fans on a global scale by way of 3D VR technology
- Applications are open to all Victorian musicians and performing artists from all genre
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With applications opening today, the first-of-its-kind Music VR Backers Fund is a new industry grant that offers Victorian musicians the chance to connect with fans worldwide through live 3D VR technology, empowering them to diversify their income and to transcend not only the physical limitations of COVID-19 restrictions but enable fans to experience live music like they never have before.
Applications are open from today to all Victorian musicians and performing artists across all genres, with a total of 20 grants available. Each successful applicant will receive a $2,500 cash grant to live stream in virtual reality a bespoke performance from Australia’s first made-for-VR venue in Melbourne’s inner city, Project Redstone, as well as other iconic live performance venues in the city.
All eligible entrants will be judged by an independent panel of leading Victorian music figureheads from Music Victoria’s Artist Advisory and COVID Recovery Advisory Groups, including the likes of Granite Consulting’s Dave Newington, Box Hill Institute’s Ben Wiesner, Melbourne Music Week’s Elise Peyronnet, and artists Kylie Auldist, Peta Petidis, and Tim Curnick.
Each performance will be live-streamed through Inverse’s Virtual Reality platform around the world during an inaugural Beyond Boundaries VR Festival, while each successful applicant will receive one-to-one coaching and support on VR stagecraft, to ensure the festival is an experience like no other.
“The Beyond Boundaries VR Festival will be the crescendo of the Music VR Backers Grant, where fans from all over the globe will be invited to virtually attend ‘in person’ and encounter all the facets of a live music festival – audio, visual, ambience and energy of the space – in ways that transcend the live music experience,” explains Inverse founder Darren Vukasinovic.
“Through the Music VR Backers Fund and the Beyond Boundaries VR Festival, each artist will connect with domestic and overseas fans unable to attend gigs in person, as well as reach new audiences in unique and groundbreaking ways through the fast-growing global VR headset market, who are hungry to explore exciting new immersive experiences.”
Born amid the adversity of COVID-19, Inverse is Australia’s-first ever ‘live’ 3D virtual reality (VR) platform, created to connect fans, families, friends and communities with the enriching experience of ‘live’ performance art and music, remotely. Enabling access to experience live events like never before, Inverse is breaking down even more barriers, and turning live performances into a much more immersive experience.
Applications for the Music VR Backers Fund are open from Wednesday, March 3rd and close on Sunday, March 28th. For full details, check out the application page on the Inverse website.
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