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Applications for DLA#4 are now opened to both cultural and creative industries including artists, producers, designers, collectives, students or entrepreneurs as Digital Lab Africa (DLA) launched its next call for applications. In its fourth edition, all creatives and cultural entrepreneurs from Sub-Saharan African countries are invited to apply to take part in the DLA#4 acceleration programme before 1st March, 2020.
The DLA is Africa’s reference platform for next-gen content. To apply visit #4DLA
Managed by the South African innovation hub Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct since 2018, DLA is an initiative of the Embassy of France and French Institute in South Africa (IFAS). Applications for DLA#4 are open to both cultural and creative industries including artists, producers, designers, collectives, students or entrepreneurs.
Established in 2016, Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct incubates digital entrepreneurs and grows the skills pipeline for the digital economy through collaboration with academia, corporates, government and entrepreneurs. In July 2018, Tshimologong Precinct launched a Digital Content Hub, an incubator of innovative and creative audio-visual content, in partnership with Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS).
Chief Executive of the Tshimologong Precinct, Lesley Donna Williams, says that DLA remains a key component of the Precinct’s ‘African Digital Innovation’ initiative: “While the need for quality content remains paramount, DLA#4 will focus on finding the most innovative creatives Africa has to offer. We are hoping that this edition’s projects will be innovative in terms of form, storytelling, content and technologies used.”
The Pan African accelerator focuses on 5 key categories: immersive realities, video games, music, animation and digital art. The programme is also supported by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), SACEM, TRACE, TV5 Monde Afrique and several French and Sub-Saharan African partners.
Selected applicants will be given a DLA Incubation Pass to fast track the development of their project. Alongside mentorship and training sessions, the DLA #4 winners will be hosted in residency in France and also attend industry events such as Annecy Animation festival, Newimages, Paris Games Week or Les Nuits Sonores in France and the Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation festival in South Africa.
