The Obama Administration has given a $100,000 grant to Spelman College professor and filmmaker Ayoka Chenzira to produce “HERadventure”- a video game starring a black alien female climate change superhero that is sent to earth to save everyone from global warming.
That’s not all. The ‘superhero’ within the game is also driven by the premise that global warming is “caused by social issues impacting women and girls.”
Spelman College wrote the following about the game and grant:
What would happen if the societal issues affecting women put other planets at risk? Well, of course, HER, a Black female superhero, would swoop in with a plan to save the universe. HER is central to HERadventure, a science fiction-based, multimedia platform project that interweaves virtual worlds, digital and social media to create a gaming and storytelling experience. HERadventure not only entertains but tackles social issues that permeate the daily reality of many women.
HERadventure is the brainchild of filmmaker and digital media artist Ayoka Chenzira, Ph.D., founder and director of the Digital Moving Image Salon. Spelman College was recently awarded a $100,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to implement HERadventure, developed by Chenzira. The award is the first NEA grant for Spelman, and the College is one of nine award recipients (among a total of 79) to receive the NEA’s funding cap of $100K in the Arts in Media category.
“I’m excited about receiving funding from NEA because it speaks to their belief in supporting projects that are experimental in nature, are doing creative things that are computer based and involve the expansion of artists’ thinking,” said Chenzira.
“HERadventure” is set to be released March 8, 2013, on International Women’s Day.