STRATHCONA SPATIAL SOUND SOCIETY

The Strathcona Spatial Sound Society (SSSS) advances education and accessibility in spatial sound by supporting artists community members and the public through three ongoing programs. Artist Bursaries: SSSS provides bursaries to artists accepted into Lobe Spatial Sound Studio’s residency program subsidizing studio and mentorship fees to make spatial-sound creation more accessible. Artists are selected through an application process based on project quality artistic goals and commitment to professional growth. Residencies typically last one to four weeks and include hands-on training with advanced 4DSOUND technology. Bursaries cover approximately two-thirds of studio costs directly reducing barriers to education and innovation in this emerging field. Community Access to 4DSOUND Technology: Periodically SSSS hosts free community evenings at Lobe Studio. These events give artists students and local residents the opportunity to experiment with the 4DSOUND system learn from experienced technicians and connect with peers. They strengthen community engagement promote collaborative learning and ensure that new technologies in sound remain publicly accessible. Support for Accessible Public Programming: SSSS contributes to keeping most events at Lobe affordable through low-cost or sliding-scale ticketing. This enables diverse audiences to experience spatial-sound art educational presentations and performances regardless of income. We also encourage our audience to reach out for no-cost tickets if cost is an access barrier. Program Administration and Capacity Building: To sustain these initiatives SSSS contracts a part-time grant writer and relies on volunteer board members for coordination community outreach and technical support. Approximately ten hours per month are dedicated to grant development and administration supplemented by volunteer efforts. Through these activities SSSS furthers its charitable purposes of promoting the spatial-sound artistic community providing education and access to technology and organizing events that connect artists and the public with innovative forms of creative expression.