<div dir="ltr"><div>*MAGIC CIRCLES - A laboratory of virtual worlds*</div><div>Online, Sep-Nov 2024<div>CAD$1000 + production support for participating projects<br></div><br></div><div>Read the full call and apply by July 1: <a href="https://research-practice.com/magicc" target="_blank">https://research-practice.com/magicc</a>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Seeking to
investigate virtual worlds in all their wealth and diversity, the Magic Circles
laboratory program invites practitioners from different areas to engage in an
eight-week cycle of online discussions, tours, and experiments. We are looking
for projects at any stage of development that explore the possibilities (and
shortcomings) of virtual worlds. The laboratory is conceived as a sort of
horizontal production residence, through which participants will be encouraged
to support and guide each other in their online spaces of choice. Participating
projects will receive a CAD$1000 stipend. Ad hoc production support may also be
available on a case-by-case basis.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">EXAMPLES OF
ELIGIBLE PROJECTS INCLUDE<span></span><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">- Surveys of in-world ecosystems, economies,
cultures, and communities;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Symbol"><span><span style="font:7pt "Times New Roman""></span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">- Development of world-specific interactive
content (games, puzzles, automata, Turing-complete computers, Rube Goldberg
machines, etc);</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Symbol"><span><span style="font:7pt "Times New Roman""></span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">- Creation of in-world artworks and performances
of any kind (sculpture, installation, exhibition, theater, concerts, etc.);<span></span><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">- In-world photography and filmmaking practices
(video essays, fiction, experimental, etc.);<span></span><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">- Pocket and purpose-built worlds in private
servers;<span></span><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">- Development or detournement of
control/sensorial interfaces (accessibility hacks, mocap systems,
teledildonics, etc.);<span></span><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">- Archaeology of defunct or discontinued
platforms (MUDs, Habbo hotel, Club Penguin, The Palace, etc.).<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">And some
virtual worlds we hope to explore include but are not limited to Second Life,
VR Chat, Cluster, Minecraft, Roblox, Fortnite, World of Warcraft, EVE Online,
Elder Scrolls Online, Red Dead Online, and what have you.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">TO APPLY,
please submit 1. a CV and/or portfolio; and 2. a cover letter outlining the
virtual world-related project you are currently developing (max 500 words) to
the address <a href="mailto:magiccircleslab@gmail.com" target="_blank">magiccircleslab@gmail.com</a> by July 1. If you want, you may also
submit additional materials about your proposed project in the form of links in
the email body.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span> </span></span></p>
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:12pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Magic
Circles is committed to the diversity of publics as well as to free and open
methodologies. The lab is supported by the Canadian Social Sciences and
Humanities Research Council’s <i>MetaMetaverse</i> project and the Zentrum für
Netzkunst.</span>
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