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Agog Strengthens Field of Immersive Media for Good with $6.5M in Early Grants and New Open Call for Climate-Impact Projects

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New call for proposals offers up to $1M in grants to support creators and nonprofits using immersive media to drive climate action and civic engagement

LOS ANGELES, May 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Agog: The Immersive Media Institute, a philanthropic organization focused on extended reality (XR) for social good, announced today that it has distributed nearly $6.5 million in grants to date, supporting creators, nonprofits, and field-building efforts that use immersive media to deepen public understanding of urgent social and environmental challenges. Agog is now opening its support to a wider pool of creators through its first public open call, offering up to $1 million for climate-focused immersive storytelling and projects.

Since publicly launching in 2024, Agog has worked to strengthen the ecosystem for immersive storytelling by funding projects, supporting creator labs and development programs, partnering with nonprofits, and bringing together artists, technologists, and cultural leaders. The open call reflects a deepening of Agog’s investment in exploring how immersive media can bring climate stories to life in more immediate, experiential ways.

“After more than three decades working as a journalist focused on climate change, I believe immersive storytelling is a powerful way to help people connect with what’s happening now — and imagine and build what a better future could be,” said Chip Giller, co-founder and executive director of Agog and founder of climate news organization Grist. “Immersive media represents a step change in communications. These technologies put you in the story itself, allowing you to experience it viscerally as a participant. Using them, you can travel to Greenland to experience melting ice sheets, visit low-lying islands in the Pacific threatened by sea-level rise, or even embody a tree growing from a seed to a towering old growth. It’s wild — and the changes in these media are happening fast. We hope this open call encourages more people to learn about immersive media and put it to use in the fight for a livable climate.”

“Climate change is a challenge so immense that it can be hard to grasp, even as it affects every one of us,” said Wendy Schmidt, co-founder of Agog. “Immersive storytelling has the ability to bring the effects of climate change — whether it’s melting glaciers, raging storms, or disappearing coastlines — not only before our eyes but all around us, reaching all of our senses. As Agog deepens its focus on climate storytelling, we hope that this powerful technology can, by helping us all experience these changes, spur us to action for our communities and our planet.”

Agog’s grantmaking supports immersive impact storytelling across climate change, racial equity, Indigenous knowledge, and journalism, alongside broader ecosystem investments. Climate-focused projects include “Out of the Ashes,” a virtual reconstruction of communities impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires. Work in racial equity includes support for wider distribution of “The Book of Distance,” a critically acclaimed virtual reality (VR) documentary exploring memory, migration, and state-sanctioned racism. Agog has also invested in Indigenous-led storytelling through projects like “OurWorlds” and a funding initiative with the Indigenous Screen Office, supporting community-led narratives, language revitalization, and land-based knowledge. In journalism, Agog has supported efforts like the Experiential Journalism Lab at the Investigative Reporting Program at UC Berkeley Journalism, training emerging reporters to develop immersive, experience-driven forms of storytelling grounded in rigorous reporting.

Beyond individual projects, Agog has invested in the infrastructure that allows this work to grow — from creator labs and residencies with partners like PHI, Black Public Media, and Electric South to incubators such as WORLDING and Reality Hack at MIT, in addition to wider distribution initiatives. Together, these efforts support projects from concept to audience engagement and impact.

“Immersive media has the power to have a generational impact on our society, the land, and humanity,” said idris brewster, founder of Agog grantee Kinfolk Tech. “Agog has recognized the power of and need for this technology, and its support has made this kind of storytelling possible for Kinfolk Tech and many other creators and organizations.”
 

A New Phase: Climate Futures + Immersive Media Open Call

Agog’s 2026 open call, Climate Futures + Immersive Media, supports projects that use immersive media to engage people more deeply in climate issues and expand pathways for participation and action.

The initiative invites proposals from XR creators and mission-driven organizations new to immersive media, with a focus on projects that move audiences from awareness to action. The review committee will consist of Agog leadership and climate and XR experts, including Myriam Achard, chief of new media partnerships and PR at PHI; Jerome Foster II, sustainability and social impact consultant; Anthony Leiserowitz, Ph.D., director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication; and Jacqueline Patterson, founder and executive director of The Chisholm Legacy Project.

Areas of interest for the open call include:

Climate storytelling and civic participationCommunity power and resilienceAccess, equity, and climate justicePlanetary connection and well-beingFuture-building and world design

The open call will support projects across a range of stages and formats, from early concept to more developed work. Agog is particularly interested in projects that use smart glasses, augmented reality, spatial sound, and mixed reality to help people experience climate challenges and solutions in more immediate, embodied ways. Agog will award grants in denominations ranging from $25,000 to $200,000. In addition to funding, selected projects may receive mentorship and opportunities for partnership and distribution.

Applications close June 12. agog.org/opencall2026/ 

Agog: The Immersive Media Institute

Agog: The Immersive Media Institute is a philanthropic organization founded by Chip Giller and Wendy Schmidt that is dedicated to helping creators and nonprofit leaders use extended reality — including virtual, augmented, and mixed reality — to imagine and build a more connected, just, and compassionate world. Agog operates as a field builder and creative partner, supporting immersive storytellers whose work addresses urgent social and environmental challenges.

CONTACT: Alex Capriotti
alex@agog.org

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SOURCE Agog: The Immersive Media Institute

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Jerry Garcia’s Rare Original Art Book Returns to Print for His Birthday

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Terrapin Stationers and Jerry Garcia Music Arts team up to rerelease J.Garcia: Paintings, Drawings and Sketches, the rare original collection.

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — In honor of Jerry Garcia’s birthday, Jerry Garcia Music Arts has partnered with Ted Harrington and his company, Terrapin Stationers , to rerelease Jerry’s acclaimed art book, J.Garcia: Paintings, Drawings and Sketches, originally printed in 1992.

While best known globally as the legendary lead vocalist and guitarist for the Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia was just as accomplished and passionate as a visual artist as he was a musician. Today, his visual works continue to be celebrated, appearing in gallery exhibits and museums worldwide.

The book contains a deeply personal dedication from Jerry to his wife:

“For Manasha, with love, Jerry.”

This connection is reflected in the history of his artistic journey. “In 1987, while reviewing edits for the So Far video,” notes Ted Harrington of Terrapin Stationers, “Jerry shared a whimsical sketch with Manasha. She was amazed by his visual artistry and encouraged him to sign his work. That simple suggestion inspired Jerry to begin signing his art and carrying sketchbooks on every tour from that day forward.”

At home, Jerry found a quiet sanctuary within the family art room, where he would paint and draw daily. Manasha and his daughter, Keelin, would often join him for fun drawing sessions.

“I loved painting and drawing with my father,” said Keelin Garcia. “It is touching to know his art continues to bring so much joy to others today.”

Reflecting on those moments, Manasha Garcia shared, “After a busy concert tour, our home was a sanctuary for Jerry; the studio was a place where he could just relax with his visual art, and an acoustic guitar.”

The rerelease of J.Garcia: Paintings, Drawings and Sketches honors this cherished aspect of Garcia’s legacy, offering fans and art collectors a deeper look into the mind of a visionary.

To purchase the book and explore the collection, visit the RetroActv website today.

About Jerry Garcia Music Arts

Jerry Garcia Music Arts is a mission-based arts and cultural organization inspired by musician, artist, and visionary Jerry Garcia. The company is receptive to partnerships with creatives of like mind.

About Terrapin Stationers

Terrapin Stationers , founded by producer Ted Harrington, is a division of GHP Media. The company provides creative consulting and printing services for a diverse range of clients across the fashion, music, and entertainment industries.

Press Release Service provided by 24-7PressRelease.com

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SOURCE Jerry Garcia Music Arts

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Mitgo Ventures Launches Publisher Investment Program

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NECKARSULM, Germany, Aug. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Mitgo Ventures isn’t a bank. It isn’t a generic VC fund that discovered “affiliate marketing” last year. It’s the investment arm of the same Mitgo Group that built one of the leading global partner networks, Admitad. Through the Publisher Investment Program publishers can get direct access to the people who built a $300M+ annual revenue affiliate business.

Mitgo’s mentors have a unique expertise in performance field:

20 years in performance marketing400+ business ideas tested30+ businesses still running40+ startups built from scratch25+ venture deals closed5 acquisitions

These are the people who will be looking at publisher’s business — and they’ve seen every version of it before. Not a course, not a playbook, not a Notion doc. Real conversations with founders who’ve made the same mistakes a publisher is about to make — and figured out how to avoid them.

The Mitgo ecosystem opens up to every participant of the Pubisher Investment Program. Investors, advertisers, portfolio companies — new clients and partners start appearing swiftly. These are connections that take most publishers years to build, if ever.

Requirements are simple. A publisher needs to be working on (or open to) the CPA model, operating in the US, Europe, MENA, LatAm, or APAC, and generating at least $1,000/month consistently over the last three months. Cashback site, coupon platform, deal aggregator, content publisher — if a business earns real affiliate revenue, it’s likely exactly who Mitgo is looking for.

The publisher starts with the application — it takes one minute to fill. Then the applicant has a conversation with an investment manager, no pitch deck required. Then negotiate the terms and sign the deal.

When the deal closes, Mitgo makes noise about it. Publisher’s name reaches investors and advertisers who are actively looking for similar publishers. That kind of visibility is usually not for sale. And through all of it — Mitgo’s founders and top management are personally in the publisher’s corner.

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mitgo-ventures-launches-publisher-investment-program-302840544.html

SOURCE Mitgo

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Chandigarh University Uttar Pradesh Advanced Credit Program Gains Strong Response with 1,856 Industry Certifications in One Year

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Top Companies like Intel, AWS Academy, EC-Council, SAS, Altium, Tally, The Australia Today, LifeSenz Offers certifications

LUCKNOW, India, Aug. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Chandigarh University Uttar Pradesh is redefining how students prepare for the future by turning learning into measurable industry value. With its Advanced Credit Program delivering 1,856 industry certifications in just one academic year, CU UP is proving that a degree can be far more powerful when it is backed by globally relevant skills, flexible credit pathways and direct industry alignment.

The initiative reflects a clear shift in higher education, where students are no longer expected to rely only on classroom learning. Instead, they are being prepared with practical, career-oriented capabilities that match the needs of modern industry. Chandigarh University’s Advanced Credit Program has been designed to give students access to globally recognized certifications and job-ready skills even before they formally begin their degree journey.

The Advanced Credit Program allows students to earn credit points through certified learning, which can later be used within their academic progression. These credits can be transferred when students move from one course to another or from one stream to another, making the program especially useful for flexible and interdisciplinary learning.

The system also supports students who may need to pause their studies for any reason and later return to complete another course. Their previously earned credits can still be used, reducing duplication of learning and saving both time and effort. This makes the model useful for multiple entry and exit pathways, which are becoming increasingly important in modern higher education.

For students who want to explore new directions, the program offers additional value. A learner who studies science at the undergraduate level can later move toward data science or management at the postgraduate level, while still benefiting from previously earned credits. In this way, the ACP helps students understand industry expectations early and begin preparing for placements well in advance.

For the 2026–27 session, Chandigarh University has expanded the program with 60 industry-oriented courses across different clusters. These include subjects in AI, robotics, machine learning, cloud computing, taxation, fintech, smart cities, cancer biology, digital communication and critical thinking.

The engineering cluster offers the largest share with 23 courses, covering areas such as artificial intelligence, IoT, robotics and cloud computing. The management cluster includes 15 courses, such as airline operations, business analytics and personal branding. The liberal arts cluster offers 6 creative and skill-building courses, including architectural design, journalism and visual storytelling.

There are also 8 common-to-all cluster courses for students from every stream, including communication skills, financial literacy and entrepreneurship. In addition, the university has introduced 5 interdisciplinary courses in the engineering and management category, 1 integrated course across engineering, management and science, and 2 focused programs in the sciences cluster, where bioinformatics and environmental sustainability are key areas.

Each course cluster has been designed in line with global industry requirements. A major advantage is that students can complete these courses online from home, allowing them to balance academic study with skill development in a convenient way.

The program is supported through collaborations with respected industry partners such as Intel, AWS Academy, EC-Council, SAS, Altium, Tally, The Australia Today, LifeSenz and others. These partnerships ensure that students learn in line with current industry standards and are exposed to content that is both relevant and practical.

The certification-based model helps students gain verified skills while continuing their degree studies. That balance between formal education and industry learning is one of the strongest features of the program. It gives students the flexibility to build their profiles in a structured manner, without waiting until the final years of college to become career ready.

The first-year response of 1,856 certifications shows that students have embraced the initiative with enthusiasm. It also reflects the growing demand for education models that support both academic achievement and professional growth.

CU UP Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Thipendra P. Singh said, “the Chandigarh University  was delighted with the strong response to the Advanced Credit Program. In the past year, students completed 1,856 industry certifications, which shows that today’s learners are ready to strengthen their degree with industry-required skills.

Singh further added, “Chandigarh University’s focus has always been to make students industry-ready from the beginning. Through ACP, students have gained access to learning in future-oriented fields such as AI, machine learning, cybersecurity, cloud computing and data science, which has strengthened both their skills and confidence.

The success of the Advanced Credit Program demonstrates how Chandigarh University is building an education model that goes beyond traditional teaching. By enabling students to earn certifications, build flexible credit pathways and access industry-aligned content early, the university is helping shape a more practical and employability-focused academic journey.

As the program returns for the 2026–27 batch, it is expected to continue supporting students who want to learn beyond the classroom and prepare themselves for the demands of a rapidly changing global job market. For Chandigarh University Uttar Pradesh, the ACP is not just an add-on; it is a strategic step toward creating a generation of skilled, confident and industry-ready graduates.

About Chandigarh University Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow)

Envisioned to foster a culture of sustainability and empower future global leaders, Chandigarh University, Uttar Pradesh, immerses 21st-century learners in a personalised and experiential learning experience, integrating an AI-powered academic model and a multidimensional, futuristic perspective on education. Our Uttar Pradesh campus carries forward the venerable legacy of more than a decade of Chandigarh University, Punjab, which has established itself as India’s No. 1 Private University and a torchbearer of groundbreaking pedagogy and research-driven innovation. The AI-augmented new campus offers a broad spectrum of industry-driven futuristic academic programs encompassing data-driven insights, virtual reality experiences, real-world simulations, corporate mentorship, international perspective, interdisciplinary research, cultivation of entrepreneurial spirit, and professional competencies.

https://www.culko.in/

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