Maitree House

17/07/2024

We couldn't be more excited to share a sneak peek of our new project Ceritalah made in collaboration with the team at Think City. At the meeting point of community, heritage and digital innovation, Ceritalah brings history, culture and local stories to life on the streets of your town. Stay tuned for more updates soon.

15/05/2024

We love working on museum projects where community memories and stories are centred and celebrated. For our Malaysian friends and colleagues, if you have a story to share about Fort Cornwallis in George Town please come along to the Open Day next Saturday 25th May! We'll see you there.

25/03/2024

If you're interested in exploring all things digital x museum then we recommend joining us at the brilliant Museum Next Digital Summit this week!

This virtual conference will share inspiring projects and best practice from museums around the world. Highlighting how digital is transforming the future of museums.

25/03/2024

In the second year of Maitree's XR Mentorship initiative for South East Asian artists and storytellers, Cahaya XR presents Symbiosis, a prototype VR experience created by emerging artists Koh Kai Ting and Aw Boon Xin.

Exhibited in George Town on March 30th and 31st, the surreal work takes audiences on a journey to "depart from the anthropocentric perspective and into the nonhuman domain", exploring the intersection of our fragile ecosystems with human development.

Congratulations to the artists! And thank you to our supporters The Habitat Penang Hill, Penang Art District, Yayasan Sime Darby and Penang Science Cluster.

27/11/2023

🔈 Maitree is Hiring ✨

We are currently seeking a creative SOCIAL MEDIA & MARKETING MANAGER with a passion for all things arts, culture and heritage for our Penang office. ✨

You'll be helping us market an innovative new digital cultural heritage and museum project launching in Penang in April 2024.

Come check out our detailed hiring post on our website!!

https://www.cahayaxr.com/join-us

You might just be that person we need 🙌🏻

21/09/2023

Maitree is very proud to present our second annual Cahaya XR labs starting tomorrow in Penang! Produced in partnership with Penang Art District and The Habitat Penang Hill this year's labs focus on exploring the intersection of climate action, immersive storytelling, sustainability and regeneration.

The program provides a platform for Penang based artists to create their first XR prototype works. And this year, we're excited to open up our Masterclasses to the public for a small participation fee. Starting tomorrow night and over the weekend, we have three online masterclasses, then the following weekend are in-person workshops at Forward College in Penang.

Registration is required. Please follow links below. For any international friends wanting to join please email [email protected] and we can support the payment process.

09/08/2023

Maitree in Singapore! What a delight to have been invited by Avventura to conduct a Dance XR workshop alongside Brandon Powers who specializes in Embodiment Designs and advocate for the crucial role of choreographers in the XR world. A big thank you to 10 Square for providing us the space to explore around. Lastly, we would like to thank you to all the participants who trusted us in guiding you through unfamiliar grounds and new ways of presenting dance.

21/07/2023

Public libraries are such an important place for our community. We've been very inspired to learn just how libraries in Australia are constantly working to improve how inclusive and accessible they can be for people from all backgrounds and abilities.

Special thanks to the Northern Territory Library for demonstrating such outstanding leadership in this space and supporting our work with The University of Melbourne and Latrobe's Living with Disability Research Centre. We were so grateful to be able to use the library to film some recent elearning resources about how we can make mainstream services more inclusive and accessible for people with intellectual disability.

11/07/2023

We're looking forward to a jam packed two days in Singapore of sharing and creativity on everything dance and XR. Thanks to Avventura for hosting us!
____

Everything you've always wanted to know about Extended Reality or XR - encompassing Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR) and how to apply these technologies to your dance practice and performances to create new worlds and new experiences for your audiences.

Specially put together for artistic directors, choreographers, dance educators, and any dance artist interested in creating immersive dance experiences in the physical and virtual world.
This hands-on arts-tech workshop will be led by choreographer/creative director and leading XR dance practitioner from New York, Brandon Powers, Australian XR creative studio Maitree House, and Singapore creative-tech studio Avventura.

Registration for Singapore-registered performing arts groups and Singapore-based performing artists are highly subsidised. There is an additional 15% discount for performing arts students from LASALLE College of the Arts, and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.
Workshop is limited to 30 participants so sign up today at www.DanceXR.sg/dancexrlab

07/07/2023

The Cahaya XR team are excited to be launching their 2nd annual XR Mentorship program. If you're in Malaysia - it's a great opportunity to build your XR storytelling skills and work on a prototype!
_____

Are you a Malaysian artist or storyteller with an interest in exploring XR (Extended Reality) storytelling and creating work in the Metaverse?

We have an OPEN CALL for artists (music, dance, visual arts, theatre, digital) to participate in our 2nd annual Cahaya XR Mentorship program - a 6 month program facilitated by XR professionals from Malaysia and abroad. This year’s mentorship is in partnership with The Habitat Penang Hill and Penang Art District and encourages artists to explore the intersection of nature conservation work, climate impact and metaverse realities in Penang.

Click on the link below to learn more and submit your application now!

https://www.cahayaxr.com/opencall

The deadline for the submissions is the 22nd July 2023.

30/06/2023

Co-creating virtual worlds with young people is the best - so much free flowing imagination! If you're at the Georgetown Festival this year do come along and immerse yourself in a hyper surreal, beautiful world created by some stellar young artists in collaboration with Split Splat Arts Studio in Penang. 🤩🌈💥

This George Town Festival as a part of Macam-macam, embark on a journey of dreams and imagination in this virtual reality (VR) experience co-created by digital studio and ten young artists aged 6-12 from Split Splat arts, Penang .my . A Small World After All invites audiences to step inside a world reimagined by young people as they explore what's important to them, their hopes, fears and aspirations. Bringing together stories and handcrafted structures made by the young artists, A Small World After All is a unique adventure for the whole family. Experience the wonder of this magical world or come along and make your own virtual reality artworks in the exhibition’s 3D painting booth.

07/06/2023

Maitree's work has won the overall Winner and Tech for Good category at the Australian TechDiversity Awards held in Melbourne last week!

The Tech for Good category recognises technology projects that have a positive social impact and leverage technology to address social challenges, promote equity, and make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities. Our work on the eLearning Modules we made in collaboration with so many talented cast, crew and project partners the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and Liquid Interactive were recognised at the awards.

We feel so grateful to work with all the people involved in these projects - what a team effort!

17/05/2023

At Maitree we believe each person's story matters and everyone has the right to be heard.

Our team of storytellers, creative technologists, filmmakers and arts and heritage specialists are committed to collaborative codesign and community driven storytelling principles. We aim to create work that has a positive impact on people and the environment, is authentic to the communities we work with, celebrates resilience and builds empathy.

Check out our new website www.maitreehouse.com and connect with us at [email protected] to learn more about ways we can support you bring your story to life.

Special thanks to our designer Woon Jing for her beautiful work and some of the people we have worked with in these pictures: Inner West Council and the Buuja Buuja-butterfly dance group ; Producer and Artist Luvenia Kalia; NDIS, Robin and Seriako.

16/05/2023

Stellar work by the talented young people at Nauiyu community in their most recent music video 'Come Together' that Maitree cinematographer Leigh Bramall worked on with Red Dust.

The clip was written, recorded and produced in Nauiyu community with Red Dust in April 2023. The incredibly talented students from Saint Francis Xavier College and community members from Nauiyu worked with renowned producer Nathan Fejo, the amazing MrMonk, local legends Joe Matheson and Dylan Mingunn and videographer Leigh from Maitree to create this music video that tells the story of diversity, resilience and inclusion that is the community of Nauiyu. Made in partnership with the Mirriam Rose Foundation and Saint Francis Xavier School. Big shout to Shotgun, Plugger, Matty and the might Daly River Buffaloes.

Come Together was written, recorded and produced in Nauiyu community with Red Dust in April 2023. The incredibly talented students from Saint Francis Xavier ...

06/04/2023

Over the last four weeks, Maitree producers have been travelling to the Tiwi Islands to facilitate a media program with the talented crew from Tiwi College. The young people scripted and filmed a short film introducing newcomers to their home and school. So much thanks to the young people, Corrugated Iron Red Dust Mamanta and Tiwi College for having our team - and for the pilot for getting us there safely! So much resilience and beauty in Tiwi.

You can read more about Maitree's latest projects in our blog.

17/03/2023

Experience the disappearing cultures of Hong Kong in the metaverse. Cultural heritage preservation using digital technology is increasingly popular. Take the time to check out this brilliant project by the passionate team at Hong Kong XR Museum who are using 3D spatial XR technology to document and record places and artefacts in Hong Kong that are slowly disappearing.

If you have a VR headset do check it out, its amazing to stand in a small corner cafe in Hong Kong in 1952 and experience the lives of Hong Kongers post-WW2 right from your home.

03/03/2023

Communication is a human right and something many of us take for granted. In our recent work for Speech Pathology Australia, we loved hearing from people what is important for them when it comes to communication.

A big congratulations to Speech Pathology Australia for the launch of their new Communication Hub website!

Check out their new website link below:
https://communicationhub.com.au/CommunicationHub/A-human-right/Communication_Hub/Communication_is_a_human_right/Human_Rights.aspx?hkey=73b34d03-4412-4bed-8371-99520888bb05

You can read more at the blog.
https://maitreehouse.webflow.io/work/communication-hub-resouces

28/02/2023

A beautiful animation collaboration between Djilpin Arts and the ABC sharing stories from Central Arnhem. What a great resource!

Dust Echoes is a series of twelve beautifully animated Dreamtime stories from Central Arnhem Land. A collaboration between the Djilpin Aboriginal Arts Corporation, the ABC and Australian animators.

25/02/2023

There is a growing trend amongst the world’s leading museums and cultural institutions to explore how immersive (XR) technology supports the presentation of exhibitions and stories in new ways. Our Arts and Cultural Producer Luvenia Kalia shares some great examples from around the world.

You can read more at the blog below:
https://www.maitreehouse.com/news/immersive-tech-storytelling

24/02/2023

"From heritage institutions adopting R&D methodology to adapting live theatre for the screen, there are myriad ways of integrating digital transformation."

Thanks Celina Lei - great article. :)

From institutions adopting R&D to adapting live theatre for the screen, there are myriad ways of integrating digital transformation.

04/11/2022

A great first development in Penang of virtual reality dance work A Late Bloomer by Annalouise Paul Dance Theatre supported by our VR team and sponsored by the Australian High Commission in KL. Some beautiful uses of 3D scans of heritage sites and mocap dance.

21/06/2022

Maitree's new initiative in Malaysia XR is holding their first exhibition at the this July 13-17.

Cahaya XR: First Edition is an immersive exhibition featuring the work of three Penang artists who have each attended a 3 month XR mentorship from Maitree.

The artists have each worked on creating XR experiences highlighting stories unique to Penang. From taking you down memory lane reminiscing moments on the Penang ferry, to holding space for dialogue in the Metaverse.

Prepare to immerse yourself in experiences by:





Stay tuned for more exciting updates on workshops, panel discussions and artists talks in the spirit of building awareness of XR technology and its possibilities within and beyond heritage, arts and culture.

penangart

29/04/2022

Did you know people with intellectual disability can be anywhere from 40% to 300% more likely to end up in our prison system than people without?

Learn more about the experiences of people with intellectual disability in Australia's criminal justice systems at the launch of our immersive virtual reality documentary [They Will Use] MY FIRST NAME. Produced by VALID in collaboration with Maitree House, the project is driven by the first hand accounts of people with disability.

Please come along if you are interested to learn more about the gaps in our current justice system and how we can improve the rights of people with disability in our justice systems in Australia:

Wed 18th May // 3pm AEST

Register for zoom launch here: shorturl.at/emIQ4

Project website: https://www.myfirstnamefilm.com/

VALID invites you to the launch of its Justice for All project and short film [They will use] My First Name - a documentary sharing the experiences of people with intellectual disability in Australia's criminal justice system, narrated by people with lived experience. The launch is on Wed 18 May 3pm.

The launch will include a live stream of the film (17 mins) and a panel discussion with Q and A opportunities with people involved in the project including the narrators, the project team and disability advocates. The discussion will focus on the rights of people with disability in our criminal justice system, how we can create equal access to justice and ensure all people are free from violence and neglect.

You can register here
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rc--pqzouGdBRLDZejqB7pg-C6DiI0HaY

17/03/2022

Into the Metaverse is an XR arts showcase presenting the vibrant works of two local Penang artists Taz and Fakh who have each taken a deep dive into arts creation in the metaverse during lockdown. Taz is a Penang based Graffiti & Mixed Media Visual Artist and Fakh is a Painter & 3D Generalist.

The works present a variety of art created within the span of two weeks in an online Virtual Reality Artist Residency facilitated by Maitree, a Penang based creative studio. The artists were given Oculus VR headsets to explore XR creation processes within the comfort of their own home. With very little urgency for a product, the artists were able to explore new possibilities of creation and develop skills in creating in a VR headset. The showcase is a product of collaboration between the artists and Maitree's in-house Unity Developer, Steven Voon.

During this online sharing, we will be walking you through the VR experience and share the AR download for you to experience the work in the comfort of your own home! We have also attached the AR download QR code to this email for you to access the work prior to the event.

The artist themselves will then share insight on their process in creating these works. A Q&A session will commence at the end of the sharing where you can feel free to ask any questions and engage in an open dialogue.

19/01/2022

Excited for our upcoming VR/AR Art Exhibition happening on the 11th of February at Forward School, Penang, Malaysia!

Click the link below to find out more!

https://www.maitreehouse.com/single-post/into-the-metaverse

Over the past year, Maitree has been exploring new ways to grow and contribute to the creative technology and immersive arts scene in Malaysia, with a specific focus on Penang. Through a number of artist and community conversations held during the year grew our inaugural two week VR/AR Artist Reside...

13/12/2021

Looking for people with intellectual disability or ABI to act in scenes depicting best practice for support in hospitals!

This is a paid opportunity and the filming will happen in Bendigo.

If you are confident in front of the camera and interested in applying, get in touch with us by sending an email to [email protected] with the following information:

Name:
Age:
Location:
Preferred way to communicate:
Level of support needed in day to day life:

Check out the link below for further information:
https://www.maitreehouse.com/single-post/casting-call-looking-for-people-with-intellectual-disability-or-abi-for-video-project

Easy english document available in the link.

Maitree House is currently working with Latrobe University on a project about how hospital staff and workers can support people with intellectual disability or ABI in the hospital system. We are looking for people with disability to play the lead role in each of our scripted scenarios. No experience...

11/11/2021

We are casting presenters in Sydney to be a part of our e-learning project helping NDIS workers understand how to best support people to have safe and enjoyable mealtimes (and why it’s important!)

Click link below for details:
https://www.maitreehouse.com/single-post/of-call-out-looking-for-male-presenters-with-disability-sydney

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, please send an email to [email protected] answering the following questions:

What is your name and age?

Where do you live?

What is your ethnicity or cultural background?

What are some examples of things you like to do in your daily life?

What is your disability type?

What is your preferred way to communicate (eg verbal, AAC)?

What support do you need at mealtimes?

Do share this post with people who you think would love to be part in our project and is passionate about mealtime support!

Nov 2021 / Sydney Maitree House (www.maitreehouse.com) is looking for talented presenters with disability who live in the NT, love being in front of the camera and are interested in helping NDIS workers understand how to support people to have safe and enjoyable mealtimes. Are you a person with disa...

23/09/2021

Maitree is working on a new project with Speech Pathology Australia sharing the real stories and experiences of people living with a communication disability.

This disability-led series of videos will help people with disability, their families and speech pathologists navigate through SPA's new Communication Hub website to be launched soon.

The Maitree team love working on these stories advocating for greater inclusion and celebrating lots of diverse communication styles. Thanks so much to all the wonderful interviewees last week in the studio!

                 

20/09/2021

We organised our first VR/AR online residency with two very talented Penang artists, and !

We are very grateful to have spent 2 weeks connecting through online discussions, casting headsets into our zoom sessions and getting the inside scoop of how these artists work in tiltbrush.

Thank you for trusting us with the process and allowing us to be apart of your process.

16/08/2021

Beautiful sculptural painting in Tiltbrush.