360 SMAC is where art and technology collide.

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360 Sault Media Arts Collective (SMAC) is helping make media arts more accessible locally.

According to local artist and art educator Annie King, "Media arts encompass a variety of techniques and strategies for artists to utilize. Video and sound are of course included, however it goes beyond film to include for example robotics, internet arts, video game arts, or interactive media installations."

The contemporary art form has been popular in Southern Ontario for several years and is making its way North.

Currently housed above 180 Projects Gallery on Gore St., the Sault Media Arts Collective provides access to production, post-production, and exhibition equipment as well as educational resources.

Members can use editing software, digital or analog cameras and projectors, lighting and sound equipment, and educational resources at a discounted rate.

360SMAC based its model off others in the province, particularly Near North Mobile Media Lab based out of North Bay which has experience facilitating media arts creation in a Northern context.

"I think the inclusion of media arts is vital to the North," said King, "Continued visibility of media arts practices helps expand the publics' ideas of what art is beyond that of well established traditions."

SMAC was just one of many new media collectives to receive the Regional Media Arts grant from the Ontario Arts Council for initial funding. King said the North Light Media Collective in Thunder Bay received the same grant.

Jason Lloyd, Andrea Pinheiro, Devin Alexander, Annie King, were the founding members of the collective, with help from Algoma U student Taylor Jolin.

Since its inception, SMAC has been involved in community events like Bon Soo and the Gore Street Flower Bomb, and held its first media arts show and film festival this past January.

Some past workshops included an introduction to film editing by Jason Lloyd and a 3D Printing workshop by Andrew Rutherdale.

Among SMAC's rental resources are older technologies which have become less popular in today's digital age.

"We have a wide variety of equipment that is now outdated but still incredibly useful to the public," said member Chris Shoust.

Shoust, an artist, writer and filmmaker who has worked across Canada in various creative careers, joined 360 Sault Media Arts Collective in 2015 when he was encouraged by other members to get involved in the community again.

He said his interest in media arts "started in 2004 when I started playing with super 8 film and it wasn't until 2012 when i got together with Steve Lang and we created the film Victoria to Vancouver."

"When I saw the beauty that came out of that, it sparked my interest even more to the point where I knew I had to do this on a regular basis," Shoust said.

The film Victoria to Vancouver was exhibited in the first 360SMAC Film Festival held in January, 2015.

His current interest is particularly in super 8 filmmaking and video production, a medium that appears to be gaining popularity again in recent years.

Among what Shoust loves about super 8 film is that you can increase image size without losing quality, he said.

"There's a richness to the quality of the colour, the grain, and the depth of the viewing experience," Shoust said.

SMAC will hold a workshop in August where Shoust will teach participants to shoot their own super 8 film. Footage will be sent away for development and production and then viewed at a later date.

"If (participants) want to make something more out of it, like turn it into a short film or add music, myself or another member of the collective would be happy to help," Shoust said.

According to Shoust, the workshop is a quick way to see the possibilities of making great shorts.

Cost is $100 for members and includes a 50 foot reel of super 8 film, access to equipment, instruction on various techniques, development of footage and transfer of film onto a DVD.

"We do one-on-one instruction, and we're going to have lots of great events and artist talks coming up as well as film screenings, Shoust said, "It's going to be a fun fall and winter for SMAC."

To find out how to get involved visit 360SMAC on Facebook or at www.360SMAC.com.