"No Signal" error on external HDMI projector with M1 Mac on Big Sur

I receive a "No Signal" error message when I try to connect my Epson (WXGA) Powerlite 1761W projector via HDMI cable and via my Anker dongle (USB C Thunderbolt 3 -- 4K @ 60Hz -- to HDMI) to my M1 MacBook Air running Big Sur.

When I attempt the HDMI connection to the projector there is a lot of flickering, and every so often, the projector displays the MacBook Air screen for about one second, then it flickers off to its usual "No Signal" error message with Blue Screen.

By contrast, the HDMI cable and Anker USB C Thunderbolt 3 dongle work perfectly well when connecting my M1 MacBook Air on Big Sur to my external Dell (U2913WM) ultra wide HD monitor.

What can I do to successfully make an HDMI connection from my M1 MacBook Air on Big Sur to my Epson projector?