Idea
Realities in Transition 2 – Unwritten worlds is a European cooperation project dedicated to strengthening the immersive arts ecosystem across Europe.
Building on the experience of its first edition, RiT2 establishes a structured framework for collective XR production, international collaboration, and sustainable distribution. The project brings together digital culture organizations, festivals, creative hubs, and production partners to support a new generation of immersive creators.
Rather than funding isolated works, RiT2 focuses on long-term ecosystem building. It supports artists and creative technologists in developing ambitious XR projects while simultaneously addressing the structural conditions required for sustainability, visibility, and cross-border mobility.
At its core, RiT2 explores how immersive technologies can be used critically, creatively, and responsibly within contemporary cultural practice.
WHY?
The field of immersive art is rapidly expanding, driven by advances in XR technologies, interactive storytelling, and AI tools. However, the infrastructure surrounding this field remains fragmented.
Artists often face limited access to production resources, distribution networks, and sustainable funding models. XR works are technically complex, costly to maintain, and difficult to circulate. There is also a growing need to address environmental impact, ethical considerations, and inclusivity in digital creation.
Europe has strong artistic and technological capacities in this domain, but cross-border and cross-sector collaboration is essential to unlock its full potential. RiT2 responds to these challenges by combining artistic creation with research, mentorship, and strategic development. The project aims to build stronger connections between creators, institutions, and audiences, while fostering a shared European approach to immersive art.
How?
The project is structured around:
- Collective creation and residencies
Five six-month hybrid residencies bring together 15 artists and 5 creative technologists from across Europe. Participants form interdisciplinary collectives and collaboratively produce five new XR works. The residency model emphasizes collaboration, experimentation, and shared authorship, enabling participants to combine artistic, technical, and conceptual expertise.
- Mentorship and knowledge development
Throughout the process, participants receive support in areas such as user experience design, production workflows, intellectual property, sustainability, and distribution strategies. The project develops structured case studies and practical tools that document key learnings and make knowledge accessible to the wider cultural sector.
- Community building and international distribution
Four XR Camp events serve as international meeting points for artists, cultural professionals, researchers, and policymakers. These gatherings function as collaborative laboratories, facilitating exchange and dialogue on the future of immersive art. The project also develops a professional catalogue and a distribution framework to support international presentation of the produced works. A White Paper consolidates insights and policy recommendations generated throughout the project.
Together, these components form a coherent strategy that connects creation, capacity building, and international circulation.
