Metaverse Cultural Series 2014 Call for Proposals

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AvaCon-MCS

The Metaverse Cultural Series is a set of events featuring performances and lectures that highlight unique aspects of metaverse culture, taking place in multiple virtual world spaces.  The series showcases innovative artists, thinkers, performers, and academics whose work is on the forefront of exploring what it means to work, play, and live in the emerging metaverse.

2014 Call for Proposals

This Year’s Theme: Global Impact of the Metaverse – Now & Future

One of the most compelling and alluring aspects of the metaverse is its infinite potential and global reach. While many places in our physical world are convulsed with revolutions, uprisings, border conflicts, and wars, the metaverse is borderless, stateless, and infinite.  In the physical world, resources are limited, hoarded, and fought over, but in the virtual world, pixels are unlimited and the only finite resources are time and our own creativity and imaginations.  Still in its nascent form, the metaverse is only just emerging as a site to develop a truly global community, and we wonder how the nexus of physical and virtual may transform our worlds on a broader scale.

As we launch the second year of the Metaverse Cultural Series 2014, we ask what impact may the metaverse be having on our world now, and how might it impact the global community in the future?

Proposals and performances of interest might include, but aren’t limited to, questions and explorations on the topic of the metaverse’s global potential and reach, such as:

  • How is the metaverse being used to mix cultures, languages and traditions?
  • What new forms of culture are emerging that exist only in the metaverse?
  • Which forms of metaverse culture are crossing the border from the virtual back to the physical?
  • How is the metaverse being used for political activism, protest, or organizing?
  • What does the metaverse reveal about our fundamental human nature?
  • Are companies and brands embracing the global nature of the metaverse, and if so how?
  • How is the metaverse impacting the way we collaborate and work together to solve real-world problems?
  • Will the metaverse inspire a more utopian future, reinforce our dystopian tendencies, or birth new kinds of human experience altogether?
  • How are the economic disparities that people experience in the real world impacting how the metaverse is developing now and moving forward?

Your presentation or performance could answer these questions directly, or be more conceptual, artistic, or interpretive.  We welcome formats of all types, including academic-style lectures, research papers, artistic exhibits or performance art, musical performances, interpretive dance, poetry, or any other form of virtual expression that may explore the themes of this year’s series.

Deadline: Midnight EST (-5 GMT), April 20, 2014

Proposal Guidelines: In 500 words or less, describe your performance or presentation idea and how it relates to the goals and themes of the Metaverse Cultural Series. Reviewers will specifically be looking for proposals that explore unique aspects of metaverse culture, particularly as it differs from other kinds of online activity.

Technical Requirements: In the Technical Requirements section of your proposal, please be as detailed as possible in describing what technologies you will need to make your performance or presentation successful. This includes specifying the platform if applicable (i.e. Second Life, Opensim, or other platform), describing your proposed virtual venue space if you have one or what you would need if you are requesting help securing a venue, requirements for voice or streaming capabilities, or any other details organizers would need to know.

Award: A stipend of $100.00 USD will be awarded to each accepted proposal to cover time and expenses for the program.

Proposal Submission Form


Please enter your first and last REAL name.
Please enter your first and last AVATAR name, if applicable. If you have multiple avatar names in multiple worlds, choose the name you wish to use for the Metaverse Cultural Series.
Please enter your email address. We use Google Apps for many functions, so a gmail address is preferred if you have one. Also be sure to double check for typos, since your email address is the primary way in which we will contact you!
We may use Skype to meet with you to plan your presentation or for streaming purposes depending upon your proposal. If you do not already have a Skype account, we suggest you create one - it's free!
If your proposal is selected, your phone number will only be used in the event of an emergency or urgent need to reach you, for example if your internet connection dies during a performance.
Personal or professional website or other web address where we can learn more about you or your work. We may also use this address in marketing material about your presentation, if selected.
Please add the social media channel you prefer us to use in any marketing material about your presentation, if selected.

Information For Reviewers

This section will only be seen by proposal reviewers and event organizers.
Please check all platforms that you would be willing to present or perform on if you need a venue - only check platforms that you are already comfortable with or that you would be willing to explore on your own time prior to the presentation. If you already have a venue, check the platform where your venue is located.
What is the name of the grid or service where your venue is located? This may be the same as the platform name, as in the case of Second Life, or it may be the name of your specific grid or world location.
What is the main URL of the service or grid where your venue is located? This should be the main URL of the service or grid itself, not a direct link to your venue. For example: http://secondlife.com or http://osgrid.org.
What is the name of your venue or location where the performance would be held in the virtual space? Example: Molasky's Pub or Anteater Amphitheater
If there is a direct URL or SLurl to your venue, enter that here. If the service where your venue is located does not provide a direct URL or SLurl link, enter a text description of where your venue is located in the world or service.
In 500 words or less, describe your performance or presentation idea and how it relates to the goals and themes of the Metaverse Cultural Series. Reviewers will specifically be looking for proposals that explore unique aspects of metaverse culture, particularly as it differs from other kinds of online activity. This section will ONLY be seen by the reviewers.
Please be as detailed as possible in describing what technologies you will need to make your performance or presentation successful. This includes specifying the platform if applicable (i.e. Second Life, Opensim, or other platform) or required venue space (i.e. land or prim requirements) , requirements for voice or streaming capabilities, or any other details organizers would need to know.

Information for Marketing & Promotional Materials

The following section should contain information about your presentation as it would be used in marketing or promotional materials about your presentation.
Enter the title of your presentation as it should be displayed in marketing or promotional materials. This would be seen by a PUBLIC audience.
Enter a brief description of your presentation as it would be displayed in marketing or promotional materials. This would be seen by the PUBLIC audience.
Add a brief biography of the primary presenter. This should be written in the third person and would be used in marketing and promotional materials about your event. If you have more than one presenter, please email info@avacon.org with the bios and photos of other presenters or performers.
This can be a headshot of your avatar or a real life photograph. The higher the resolution of the image the better. This is the image that will be used in marketing and promotional materials for your presentation.