Last week saw a mission to the moon launched, our new residency competition open and REACT’s six Future Documentary projects announced. Read on to find out more:

On Wednesday REACT announced their six Future Documentary Sandbox commissions. The Future Documentary Sandbox project will bring together leading academic researchers and experts in documentary filmmaking and digital innovation.  The projects will grapple with the really important questions in the field of factual storytelling. Like how participation and online collaboration might influence editorial control and question authenticity? How can digital technologies and storytelling work together to create meaningful, accessible and inclusive experiences? Work starts on the projects at the beginning of September; they range from the enigmatic story of ORION, a mysterious unknown singer thrust into the spotlight masquerading as Elvis back from the grave, to an interactive film about the element Boron. You can find out about all the projects here.

On Thursday one of our Studio residents Michael Johnson, in partnership with Helen White, Seth Jackson, Laura Kriefman and a host of other brilliant collaborators in and beyond the Studio, launched a Kickstarter campaign that will allow you to send your own Pocket Spacecraft on a Mission to the Moon. Explorers who back the project will be able to personalise their own spacecraft by adding a picture or message to create their own unique design. They will be able to monitor progress throughout their mission with their own Pocket Mission Control app, tracking the progress of their spacecraft as it is designed, built in the lab and as it travels through space. More technical explorers will be able to write software and even customise the on-board hardware enabling them to conduct their own unique experiments whether mapping the solar wind or playing laser tag - in space! You can find out more and back them on their kickstarter here.

On Friday morning we launched a competition to find three fantastic new Pervasive Media Studio residents in two funded categories. We are looking for one experimental and energetic new company, startup or project team to come and undertake an intensive period of R&D here in the Pervasive Media Studio. If you find that there is just never enough time or resource available for you to develop your own IP, take risks on a new proposition or go beyond the everyday, we may be able to help. We are also looking for two Graduate or New Talent residencies. Perhaps your latest project was just coming together at college, university, in your bedroom, in the lab or in the shed; or perhaps you’ve never had the time or resources to get it off the ground? If you could just get your hands on a bit of cash, give it your full attention and get some feedback, support and constructive criticism from some people who know what they are talking about, this could be the start of something special. You can find details of how to apply on our website here.

Then at Lunchtime we were joined by Andy Field who came to talk about his new project launching this week 34 Bristols. 34 Bristols is a collective attempt to consider our relationship to these faraway places. Over the weekend thirty four artists will create thirty four new works across Bristol, each considering their relationship to one of its distant namesakes. These commissions will be presented together over the 34 Bristols weekend, with each chapter of the project hosted and curated by a different local organisation. You can find out more and download a programme of events here.

We are also excited to announce that this year we are co-chairing the design competition for the International Conference on Social Robotics 2013 with Bristol Robotics Lab. The competition is open to all disciplines and centres on the theme of ‘companionship’ in social robotics. We are looking for ideas for creating future robots that people will want to spend time with in a social sense, and the benefits that such robots may give to society or individuals. You can find out more and apply on the website here.

Finally a reminder that Watershed and National Theatre Wales are looking for 12 brilliant creative Digital Producers, to take part in Wales’ very first Digital Producers Lab development programme, produced by Watershed. Participants will explore different aspects of creative technology production including: how to develop brilliant ideas, project management, making business sustainable, Intellectual Property, and pitching to clients and funders. They will also have the chance to unpick a host of best practice case studies and dabble in a little creative tech development of their own. Applications close on Monday next week so to find out more and apply visit the Watershed website.