CreativeXR is a new programme enabling the UK’s arts and cultural sector to lead the field in immersive content creation and digital innovation. The programme has been developed by Digital Catapult and Arts Council England, with support from Innovate UK.
It is supporting 20 virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) technology teams to develop innovative immersive prototypes and projects. Each team will be given up to £20,000, alongside workshops with industry leaders to help with key elements of concept development.
Aurelien Simon, Head of Immersive at Digital Catapult said: ‘With its long tradition of excellence in both the creative and technology industries, the UK has the potential to lead the way and become the best place in the world to produce immersive content. CreativeXR is bringing these two groups – and their skillsets – together to create exciting, engaging new content, and contribute to the growth of the immersive sector.”
The following 20 teams were selected to join the programme:
· Beholder by BOM (Birmingham Open Media), Birmingham: An immersive experience that explores beauty from autistic perspectives.
· Coast AR by Immersive Storylab, Liverpool & Manchester: A mixed reality experience that will enhance the UK Coastline through story, myth, fantasy and heritage.
· CODA by Aardman Animations Ltd, Bristol: A story-led VR experience that blends fairy tale, music and gaming.
· Fatherland by Limbik, Norwich & Portsmouth: An interactive theatre experience bringing real-time motion capture and VR technology to the art of storytelling.
· Immersive Histories by All Seeing Eye Ltd, Stroud: An immersive VR experience allowing an audience to physically step into history.
· Leviathan Legacy by Plymouth Arts Centre, Plymouth: Rising sea levels, interplanetary travel and aquatic worlds: Leviathan Legacy.
· London’s Got Character by Figment Productions, Guildford: An Augmented Reality experience bringing London’s cultural history to life through its vibrant literary, artistic and historical characters.
· Municipal Dreams by VR CITY LTD, London: An immersive journey into the complicated history of the notorious Aylesbury Estate.
· Open Space by Roomsize, Bristol: Be immersed within an invisible ensemble of musicians, who create an ever-changing musical texture around you.
· STEIN by Hammerhead, Gateshead: A VR crime thriller solving cold cases throughout British history.
· Symphony of Noise by UP Creatives, Brighton: Immerse yourself into sonic-landscapes – ‘Listen differently’ to reveal the music hidden in our world.
· The Collider by ANAGRAM, Bristol: Navigating across a virtual divide, you and a partner find each other.
· The Conductor by Interplay Theatre, Leeds: An immersive digital exploration of the human senses and nature.
· Theatrical Reality by Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, London: A magic mirror to unchain theatrical barriers using augmented reality technologies.
· Three Lights by Third Lighter Ltd, London: An immersive, narrative driven, VR learning experience designed for the museum sector.
· Traitor by Pilot Theatre, York: A two-player interactive high stakes thriller, combining VR with live action.
· When Something Happens by Boom Clap Play, Belfast: An epic journey through the history of the cosmos.
· Winter VR by Metro-Boulot-Dodo, Leicester: A poignant story of love, music and loss set against a beautiful arctic landscape.
· XR Museum by NSC Creative, Leicester: Enter the space wing of a virtual museum and go beyond the glass.
· The Whitechapel Tales AR by 1888, London: An augmented reality experience covering the history and a story of the Whitechapel area.
