The University of North Carolina School of the Arts has received an anonymous $10 million gift – the largest gift from an individual donor in school history.
The money will help establish the Institute for Performance Innovation, including programs in animatronics, gaming and virtual reality.
Michael Kelley is Dean of UNCSA's School of Design and Production which will house the animatronics program. Think realistic robots, complete with a flesh-like exterior, like you might see in a theme park.
“We can use it [the art of animatronics] not just within the entertainment industry, but we can also use it with our other partners with the medical field and also in the military field to help triage and help treat and train soldiers.”
Kelly says the developments will take place in the next five years and bring in outside partners eager to engage with the next generation of technology. The gaming and virtual reality program will be housed in the School of Filmmaking.