Background

Much has been learned over the past few years about the ways in which art practitioners have to navigate a range of complex legislative and funding systems in order to ensure they can continue with their practice and leverage a sustainable income. The impact of the pandemic has highlighted the need of support from those with experience in supporting individuals in developing and managing such funding systems as well as developing new approaches to working in the Creative and Cultural Industries.

Following discussions with key bodies in the sector and individuals who were involved in supporting artists, Future Screens NI established ‘Future Foundation’ in 2021.

This resulted is a successful mentoring programme that ran from 2021-2023, matching experienced practitioners to artists and creative freelancers who requested help and support. This scheme included mentoring in career and practice development, practical skills and advice on personal planning, identifying and applying for funding, and the acquisition of new practical and technical skills.

We are pleased to re-launch Future Foundation for 2025/2026, re-establishing our mentoring scheme and bringing a new programme of training and development opportunities to Northern Ireland’s creative sector.

Future Foundation 2025/26

The 2025/26 Future Foundation programme successfully delivered a comprehensive package of mentoring, training, and professional development opportunities to creative practitioners across Northern Ireland.

From November 2025 to June 2026, the mentoring programme matched 71 mentees with 42 experienced mentors, providing tailored support across career development, business planning, funding applications, skills development, and professional practice. To enhance the quality and impact of the mentoring relationships, Future Foundation partnered with AAB to deliver dedicated training for both mentors and mentees, ensuring participants were equipped to maximise the benefits of the programme.

Alongside the core mentoring programme, Future Foundation delivered the Future Stage XR Mentorship Programme, supporting creatives working in immersive and extended reality technologies. This was followed by a Technical Mentorship Continuation Programme, providing additional specialist support for participants who successfully completed the Future Stage XR programme and wished to further develop their technical expertise and projects.

A series of professional development and networking opportunities were delivered throughout the year, including an XR Day, a Freelance Connect networking event, and a Bespoke Communication Workshop. These events provided participants with opportunities to build skills, share knowledge, expand professional networks, and engage with peers and industry experts.

Recognising the importance of professional presentation and visibility within the sector, Future Foundation also hosted three headshot events across Belfast, Derry, and Enniskillen, enabling creatives from across the region to access high-quality professional photography to support their career development and promotion.

Through a combination of mentoring, specialist training, networking, and practical career support, the 2025/26 programme strengthened the capacity, confidence, and resilience of Northern Ireland's creative workforce, helping practitioners to build sustainable careers and adapt to an evolving creative and cultural landscape.

Future Foundation will establish and manage a bank of experienced mentors who will be made available to those seeking help in the following areas:

 ·        Developing new approaches to working in Creative and cultural industries

·         Enhancing practical skills and getting advice on career advancement

·         Identifying or rethinking options of financing, and making successful applications

·         Acquiring new practical and technical skills for working in the creative industries

·         Using or adapting technology to market, promote and expand their product or service

Individuals wishing to have support from the Future Foundation mentoring bank will apply and once approved will be allocated a suitable mentor.

Each mentee will be eligible to:

• 3-5 sessions with a mentor

• Attend a training seminar

• Access workshops/ lectures

Mentor applications are now closed.

Future Foundation is now seeking experienced professionals to join the mentoring bank. If you have five or more years’ experience in the Creative and Cultural Industries, and at least three years of mentoring experience, we want to hear from you.

Mentoring experience may include:

• Workplace mentoring of colleagues or junior staff

• Supporting individuals through arts, cultural or community organisations

• Mentoring in educational or career development contexts

Successful mentors will be required to:

• Complete a brief training course

• Provide 3–5 sessions per mentee between November and April

• Support up to a maximum of five mentees during the programme cycle

• Be reimbursed for their time

This is a unique opportunity to give back to the sector, support the growth of emerging talent, and help build a more sustainable and innovative creative economy in Northern Ireland.

MENTOR DIRECTORY:

To access the Mentor Directory, please click HERE.

Mentor applications have now CLOSED. Successful applicants have been notified.

Mentee applications applications are now closed.

Mentee Eligibility

•  Must have one years’ experience within Creative and cultural industries

•  Not in full time education

• Primarily based in Northern Ireland

•  Interested in developing/ adapting new approaches and learning new skills

  Successful applicants will need support in one/ or more of the following areas:

•  Developing new approaches to working in Creative and cultural industries

•  Enhancing practical skills and getting advice on career advancement

•  Identifying and applying or rethinking options of financing

•  Acquiring new practical and technical skills

•  Using or adapting technology to market, promote and expand their product or services

MENTOR DIRECTORY:

To access the Mentor Directory, please click HERE.

To apply, please complete the following form: here.

Mentee applications have now CLOSED. Successful applicants have been notified.

If you require this form in another format or have any questions, contact Aimee at futurescreensni@qub.ac.uk. Please also let us know if there are any barriers limiting your ability to take part in this programme and we will do our best to accommodate you.

FutureStage XR:

XR Training for the Performing Arts 

Future Stage XR is an introductory training programme for professional artists ready to reimagine their practice in the world of Extended Reality (XR). This programme invites performance and interdisciplinary artists to dive into immersive technologies—VR, AR, motion capture, AI, game engines — and explore how they can radically transform live performance. 

This programme is about equipping artists with the language, understanding, and hands-on experience they need to engage meaningfully with XR technologies. By demystifying the tools and workflows behind immersive media, we empower performers to articulate their creative vision with clarity—so they can collaborate confidently with technical teams and push the boundaries of what's possible in performance. 

Over the course of ten weeks, participants will gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge tools, collaborate with technologists and academics, and develop experimental XR performance concepts in a studio-lab environment. The programme will consist of a blend of online and in-person learning, with a total of five online lectures and five in-person workshops at Queen’s University Media Lab.  

The course will include training in the following areas:  

• Introduction to XR technologies  

• Augmented Reality 

• Virtual Reality 

• Computer Vision AI 

• Motion Capture 

• Real-Time 3D App Development 

Who this programme is for: 

• Professional artists working in live performance  

• Production managers/officers  

• Writers 

• Sound/lighting/AV technicians with limited prior knowledge of XR 

Eligibility: 

• This is a beginners’ programme tailored to artists with little to no experience of XR. 

• You must be able to evidence that you have been working in the arts/creative industries for at least two years. 

• You must be able to commit to five days of in-person workshops on the dates below and 1-2 hours of online learning a week. 

• You must be resident in Northern Ireland. 

Key Dates: 

• Applications Open: 17 June 2025 

• Applications Close: 1 August 2025 

• Places awarded: 27 August 2025 

• Introductory Workshop: 15 September 2025 (QUB Capture Lab)

• Weekly Lectures: 22 Sept-20 October (Online) 

• 2-day workshop: 3-4 November (QUB Dev Lab) 

• 2-day workshop: 10-11 November (QUB Dev Lab & Capture Lab)  

What participants will gain: 

• A clear understanding of XR technology and its creative possibilities  

• Foundational skills for XR development 

• Insight into crafting compelling stories in immersive media 

• A practical roadmap for applying XR to new or existing projects 

Participants who complete the course will also be eligible to apply for the Future Foundation Technical Mentorship Programme. This opportunity pairs artists with XR experts to develop and test a creative concept. The programme includes: 

• Access to XR equipment and facilities 

• A training support grant of £1500 

• A chance to showcase work in progress. 

Further details about the technical mentorship programme will be announced later in the year. 

Application

Applications for this programme are now CLOSED. Successful applicants have been notified.

Technical mentorships are now CLOSED

**For those who have successfully completed our Future Stage XR training programme**

A programme designed to support the progression of a your creative XR idea to a more advanced pre-prototype stage with targeted support from experienced XR practitioners.

Participants will receive one-to-one technical mentoring sessions with industry experts, two focused skills development workshops covering pitching and presenting XR work. And access to a dedicated support fund of up to £1,500 per creative.

To apply please download and complete the attached application form.

Applications deadline is 23rd January 2026

Should you have any queries please contact futurescreensni@qub.ac.uk 

FREE ACCESS TO LENA BY INSPIRE RESOURCES

To complement support from the Future Foundation team and our mentors, we are delighted to partner with Inspire to offer free access to the Wellbeing Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).

The Wellbeing programme is open to all our mentors and mentees, providing:

• 24hr telephone support

• Confidential counselling up to 6 x 1-hour sessions

• Access to an online hub

• Monthly e-zines with Mental Health advice from Inspire.

Full information will be provided to successful applicants. For more details, contact: futurescreensni@qub.ac.uk