The California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) has launched the D.R.E.A.M.S. (Digital Research Entertainment Arts Media Storytelling) Initiative supported by a gift from Tom Dolan and the Dolan Family Foundation.
The initiative is intended to prepare students for dynamic careers in the rapidly growing industry of location-based entertainment (LBE)—the creation of unique immersive experiences designed to entertain and educate visitors.
The Dolan Foundation was drawn to CalArts in part because the Institute was founded on the principles of disrupting rigid academic traditions while also embracing innovation, creative risk-taking, and experimentation. This program is one of the few of its kind in higher education, offering students unparalleled access to industry partnerships and hands-on learning experiences.
“Initiatives like D.R.E.A.M.S. are critical to positioning our students for the careers of tomorrow,” said Ravi Rajan, president of CalArts, in a statement. “This is just the latest example of how CalArts continues to lead the way in defining the future of the arts, entertainment, and immersive media industries.”
Key components of the D.R.E.A.M.S. Initiative include:
Paid student internships where students can gain practical experience with leading companies in immersive technologies and entertainment.
A student venture fund that will allow students to pitch their ideas, develop business plans, and secure start-up capital to bring their visions to the creative industries.
New micro-credential programs to equip students with targeted, industry-relevant skills by broadening access to CalArts’ educational programs.
“With visionary support from Tom Dolan and industry leaders, the program fosters real-time collaboration between artists and professionals, as well as education and enterprise,” said Rajan. “It will allow the next generation of students to think differently, push boundaries, and explore new mediums.”
Housed in the Patty Disney Center for Life and Work at CalArts, the D.R.E.A.M.S. Initiative will serve as an industry-partnership hub, connecting CalArts students and faculty with real-world, commercial projects involving immersive technologies.
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