A cross‑border immersive arts adventure exploring Irish cultural heritage, identity, co‑creative storytelling, and digital futures.
Are you a young woman aged 16–25 with a spark for creativity? Do you love art, heritage, fashion, animation, virtual worlds, or digital storytelling?
Then step into ImmerseHER, this is a powerful new programme designed to celebrate identity, explore cultural heritage, and build the digital and technical skills shaping tomorrow’s creative industries. This is a partnership between Dundalk Institute of Technology and Wheelworks Arts Belfast.
Over 12 months, you will dive into hands‑on creative bootcamps, collaborate with other young women, meet inspiring female role models, and co‑create artistic work that will be showcased in an exhibition in 2027. This is your chance to be part of something bold, innovative, and unforgettable.
We would love you to join ImmerseHER — empowering young women through cross‑border immersive arts, exploring identity and cultural heritage, and building the digital and technical skills needed for creative‑industry careers
What we offer
- Immersive creative workshops in AR textiles, digital fashion, VR, photogrammetry, 360° filming, motion capture, and sensor‑driven sound.
- Co‑create artistic artefacts, with all materials and resources provided.
- Co‑curate a final exhibition and see your work showcased publicly.
- Youth‑led sessions where your ideas shape the direction of the project.
- Field trips and travel to heritage sites exploring built and ecological heritage.
- A vibrant creative community, you will make new friends, collaborate with artists, and build lasting connections.
- Inspiring female role models from across the creative and digital sectors.
- Skill‑building in teamwork, problem‑solving, future thinking, exhibition design, and creative production.
- Transport to all venues and catering, refreshments provided for all sessions.
- Certificate of participation for your CV.
- Exclusive programme T‑shirt and branded merchandising.
You do not need any prior experience and there is no cost to take part in this programme,
Why Join?
Because this is an innovative exciting new initiative and you will build digital employability skills for careers in the creative industries such as animation, virtual production, games and immersive technologies. A space to experiment, express yourself, build confidence, and step into the creative industries with real skills, real experience, and real connections.
What’s the Commitment?
ImmerseHER is designed to be inspiring, manageable, and flexible. To take part fully, we ask participants to join:
Four Creative Bootcamps (10 days total across the year)
- One induction day
- One 3‑day bootcamp
- Three 2‑day bootcamps These are hands‑on, energetic, and packed with creative activities.
One Final Showcase Event (2027)
You will present your creative work as part of a final exhibition.
Monthly Online Meet‑Ups
A one‑hour online session each month to:
- connect with artists and peers.
- meet partners
- share ideas
- stay involved between bootcamps
- There will be focus groups to seek your feedback and learnings.
Your Creative Sketchbook journal
You will receive your own sketchbook journal to keep throughout the programme. This is for sketching, exploring ideas, or capturing inspiration. This is your personal creative space, not homework. You will also receive a detailed programme handbook in induction.
How does it work?
The bootcamps will run in Dundalk, with outdoor field trips to Carlingford, the Slieve Gullion region, and the Botanic Gardens in Belfast – Ulster Museum. We will also run a bootcamp in the Creative Spark Print Lab, along with practical sessions in both Dundalk Institute of Technology and Belfast. We are keen for this to be youth‑led. ImmerseHER is driven by young women — it is your programme, so your voice and input are vital to the initiative.
We plan to run four bootcamps from September 2026 to March 2027, followed by a Showcase in July 2027.
Where do I apply?
To apply, please complete an application form here: Immerse HER – Fill out form
If you could provide the following information:
- Your name, age and where you live
- A brief bit about yourself
- Why you’d like to be part of ImmerseHER.
If you cannot complete the form, please email ImmerseHER@dkit.ie
You do not need any experience, so a keen interest to learn new technologies, make new friends and be part of an innovative new cross border project.
Closing date for the applications is 30 June 2026
Information Session We will host an information session on 17 June 2026. Registration details are here ImmerseHER information session registration – Fill out form
Key Dates:
- Induction 21st August 2026
- Bootcamp 1: 8–10 September 2026
- Bootcamp 2: 29–30 October 2026
- Bootcamp 3: 15–16 January 2027
- Bootcamp 4: 18–19 March 2027
- Final Showcase: 2nd July 2027
What you will create in the Bootcamps.
What will you create
As part of ImmerseHER, young women will co‑create four exciting creative‑tech projects:
- An Augmented Reality textile piece inspired by Irish heritage
- A 360° film exploring place, landscape, and industrial history
- A Living Heritage installation using photogrammetry, plants, sound, and personal stories
- A VR world and digital fashion collection inspired by Irish textiles and identity
All creations will be showcased in a public exhibition in 2027. This is a brilliant opportunity to showcase your work.
If you have any questions about ImmerseHER please email ImmerseHER@dkit.ie
We look forward to welcoming you and seeing your application.
Closing date for the applications is 30 June 2026
