Future Dreaming (ATOM Study Guide)

Future Dreaming is a virtual reality experience that invites school students to step into the lives and dreams of four young Indigenous people from remote Western Australia. It was inspired by the ancient Indigenous practice of 'Dreaming', a mental visualisation technique where you see your spirit move through the past, present or future. The project began with a line of questioning for the four young Indigenous participants … 'What does your future look like … one week from now?' And then it grew … 'five years from now? … and twenty years from now?' 'Could you be the first Australian Aboriginal astronaut?' 'Sure!'

Over the course of a few months the young protagonists Ali Lockyer, Maverick Eaton, Nelson and Maxie Coppin, collaborated with virtual reality artist Sutu to design their Future Dreaming in the limitless creation space of virtual reality. Once their worlds were designed, they employed motion capture technology to animate their avatars to tell their story and guide visitors through their creation.

At its core Future Dreaming represents an opportunity for these young people, who hail from a remote region of Western Australia, to dream big and to be included in the technological possibilities of prototyping their own futures. Demonstrating the potential of technology for remote Australia, Future Dreaming promotes cultural rights through accessibility and supports emerging artists to increase their skills and capacity in the digital domain.

Curriculum Links:

• Design and Technologies (Years 7 & 8)
• Health and Physical Education (Years 7–9)
• Civics and Citizenship (Years 8 & 9)
• Science (Year 7)
• Geography (Years 7–10)
• Humanities and Social Sciences (Year 7 & 10)
• Visual Arts (Years 7 & 8)
• English (Year 8)
• Languages – Framework for Aboriginal Languages and Torres Strait Islander Languages (Years 8 & 9)
• Media Arts (Years 7–10)

This program also addresses Cross-curriculum Priorities and General Capabilities, including Intercultural Understanding.

Future Dreaming is available to stream for 7-day rental, 30-day rental, 1-year rental and lifetime access here.