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Immersive exhibitions to bring Southern African histories to life
The French Institute of South Africa, a member of the French South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will present Futures_Past: Amplifying Memory with Immersive Technologies, a regional initiative that uses digital tools to interpret archives. The institute runs the project with Electric South and partner institutions in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi. The Embassy of France in South Africa and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs support the programme.
Artist teams will work with six archives to create virtual and augmented reality works, spatial audio pieces and interactive installations. The exhibitions will open across Southern Africa from August to December 2026. Organisers will also stage showcases between September 2026 and February 2027. Visitors will engage with themes such as memory, activism, ecology, music heritage, and royal and social history.
Each artist team will send two members, together with an archive representative, to France to build international partnerships. The exchange aims to strengthen ties between Southern African and French cultural sectors and encourage long-term cooperation.
The project also includes a six-month training programme for emerging producers. Participants will gain experience in immersive storytelling, sound design, exhibition development and archival research. Organisers aim to equip young professionals with practical skills and industry exposure.
Futures_Past will also publish an Immersive Arts Mapping Study. The study will document the immersive arts landscape in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi. It will identify gaps in training, funding and access. Practitioners can contribute through an online survey available on the institute’s website.
