A project has been awarded funding to begin research and development of tools to make media content production more accessible to everyone in Wales.
The Stori Lab project, led by Cardiff-based communications agency Cowshed in partnership with children’s charity Cerebra, will support disabled young people in finding new ways to access the technical and creative processes of production so they can express themselves through audio/visual content, whatever their impairment.
The scheme will draw on Cerebra’s wealth of experience offering medical, educational and social support to young people with brain conditions, as well as Cowshed’s expertise in media production and creative problem-solving.
The project will begin with Cowshed’s engagement team working with Cerebra to approach the charity’s service users to build an understanding of what barriers may stand in the way of their creative expression and use of currently available tools. A pilot project will then be chosen to look at a specific workaround for a barrier to production which will be tested in a real-world context.
Stori Lab is one of 18 development projects in the field of technology, virtual production, and interactive experiences receiving investment from Media Cymru’s Seed Fund for 2024/25.
Led by Cardiff University, the fund supports the creation of new experiences, products, and services to bolster the media sector within the Cardiff Capital Region.
Successful applicants to this year’s fund include Y Pod Cyf, who will investigate the use of AI lip-syncing tools to produce Welsh-to-English video content, while Truth Department will examine whether it is possible to adapt documentaries as workplace learning tools to encourage social change.
The 18 funding recipients will have five months to work on their projects with support from Cardiff Metropolitan University’s design and innovation institution PDR and the Alacrity Foundation.
Charlie Simpson, director of creative at Cowshed, said:
“We are thrilled to have received the Media Cymru seed fund grant for our project in collaboration with Cerebra. This project kicks off our research into how to overcome challenges that people may face with accessibility in production and content creation – starting with young people.
“At Cowshed, part of our ethos of ‘work with meaning’ means we believe that everyone has a story to tell and that by giving these stories a platform we will all benefit. We are therefore focussing our attention on making production and content creation fairer, more accessible and open to everyone in Wales.”
James Hay, Business Development Manager for Cerebra, said:
“We’re excited to partner with Cowshed on the Stori Lab project, which is a significant step towards breaking down the barriers that prevent young people with disabilities from engaging in creative content production. At Cerebra, we’re committed to empowering disabled children and young people to realise their full potential, and this project aligns perfectly with our mission to foster greater inclusion and accessibility. We look forward to seeing the innovative solutions this collaboration will bring to life.”
Media Cymru’s fund manager James Atkinson said:
“Cowshed’s proposal was an ambitious exploration of how diverse audiences can be better served with products, experiences and services and understanding how these audiences can be at the heart of new approaches to creating user-centred content – a goal which aligns with our wider fair agenda.
“It’s wonderful to see Cowshed collaborating with Cerebra for this project, an organisation dedicated to putting research at the heart of their work to improve outcomes for children living with a brain injury. We look forward to seeing their project develop and grow.”
