The Talent Academy on Gaming and Immersive Storytelling by EDIH-HSL: a training experience between innovation and creativity

The Talent Academy on Gaming and Immersive Storytelling concluded with great success, an intensive course organized by SPICI srl in collaboration with MIAT and promoted as part of the EDIH Heritage Smart Lab project. The initiative involved 20 startups, SMEs, and companies operating in the cultural and creative sector, selected following a public call.

Thanks to the presence of internationally renowned experts such as Elisabetta Rotolo, CEO & Founder of MIAT, and David Bassuk, Professor of Acting at the Conservatory of Theater Arts at Purchase College, participants had the opportunity to immerse themselves in a unique training course characterized by both theoretical and practical activities.

An Innovative Training Programme

The Talent Academy took place over two intense days rich with content, designed to provide a comprehensive overview of emerging technologies applied to gaming and immersive storytelling.

During the first day, participants were able to:

• Explore the Metaverse, Web3, and blockchain, analyzing the most significant international success stories.

• Experience immersive sessions through XR viewing, discovering the intersection between technology and creativity.

• Delve into the potential of artificial intelligence in storytelling, learning to create effective prompts for engaging narratives.

• Participate in a workshop on transmedia storytelling, developing strategies for storytelling across traditional and digital media.

• Test their creativity with the “Crazy Eight” activity, a rapid design challenge to generate innovative ideas.

The second day was dedicated to practical and project-based activities:

• Participants learned how to use AI for image generation and building immersive narrative worlds, exploring connections between different media.

• They took part in a laboratory on game design and interactive storytelling, developing games based on the stories created.

• The day concluded with the preparation and presentation of pitches, a crucial moment to test and share the innovative ideas born during the course.

The Phygital Prompt Challenge: The Collective Tale of the Talent Academy

A distinctive element of the Talent Academy was the Phygital Prompt Challenge, an initiative that accompanied participants over the two days. Through the use of artificial intelligence, participants digitally reinterpreted the Academy experience, creating a collective tale that celebrates the union of technology, creativity, and innovation.

This challenge allowed experimentation with how the real and digital can integrate, offering new perspectives for storytelling and the enhancement of cultural and creative heritage.

A Special Thanks and New Horizons

The Talent Academy proved to be a success, demonstrating how immersive technologies and gaming can be a strategic lever for the cultural and creative sector.

A special thanks goes to the experts Elisabetta Rotolo and David Bassuk for their valuable contributions, as well as to the participants, whose enthusiasm and commitment made this initiative memorable.

The EDIH Heritage Smart Lab project continues its journey, promoting innovation and supporting companies and professionals in the cultural and creative sector. The Talent Academy is just an example of the initiatives aimed at fostering the development of skills and innovative technologies.