Partnership with French Embassy highlights Schroeder Institute’s purpose  

RRC Polytech Chair Chris Brower doesn’t normally receive emails from the French Embassy.  

“It’s not every day that the French Embassy reaches out asking to collaborate on a project with your students,” said Brower, Chair of the Digital Media Design, Game Development and Acting Director of the Schroeder Institute of Entertainment and Media Arts.  

This email turned into a week-long spring workshop with 15 RRC Polytech students from the Animation, Digital Media Design (Video and Motion Graphics) and Communications Design programs.  

RRC Polytech entered the conversation while the Embassy, through its cultural service, the Institut français du Canada (IFC), was involved in a similar project with Sheridan College, a fellow Polytechnic Canada member, for the 2025 Nuit Blanche in Toronto.  

When the IFC saw an opportunity to develop a similar video project in Manitoba, Sheridan connected it with RRC Polytech. 

“RRC Polytech is the most important post-secondary institute for audiovisual studies in Manitoba. It was natural for us to work together,” Benjamin Orliange, IFC Audiovisual Attaché. 

For Brower, this type of project is what the Schroeder Institute of Entertainment and Media Arts is all about.  

“This video mapping project is the largest Winnipeg-based projection artwork to date and is a great example of international collaboration and partnership, of experiential and industry‑aligned learning. This is how RRC Polytech can contribute to Winnipeg’s cultural landscape,” said Brower. 

“The Nuit Blanche Winnipeg projection project offers incredible public visibility for student work while reinforcing the Schroeder Institute’s leadership in immersive media, creative technology and interdisciplinary education,” added Brower. 

Workshop inspires students   

With a focus on video mapping, the IFC brought French video mapping artist Jules-Camille Huvig onboard along with local Winnipeg artist Julie Gendron to lead the workshop for RRC Polytech students.  

Under the guidance of Huvig and Gendron, students collaborated across programs to develop animated content was that specific to a 3D object like a building exterior or wall.  

For many students, video mapping was a new concept. It involves specialized software to project animations onto 3D objects using techniques that make those surfaces come alive. 

“This workshop showed a whole new world of art through projection mapping,” said Gabriel Gregorio, a first-year animation student. “I mainly worked on animations throughout the process. I learned how to create awesome sequences to project onto the buildings and the inner workings of camera work as well. It was fun to see everyone’s creations in the end!” 

For others, the workshop was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that expanded their skills.  

“The workshop inspired me to think about incorporating my animations into art in ways I hadn’t thought of before,” said Milani Miller, a second-year animation student. “It was a really cool opportunity and I’m glad I was a part of it.” 

Students are looking forward to seeing their project on the “big screen” later this month.  

Their three short digital storytelling projects will be presented at Nuit Blanche Winnipeg, September 26 at the St. Boniface Cathedral (180 De le Cathedrale Ave.), 9:00 p.m.  

The project was made possible with the support of the Institut français du Canada, the Programme International de Diffusion Artistique  programme of the Institut français, rencontres audiovisuelles and Manitoba Culture Days.