CULTVR

Wales to host Europe’s first immersive arts research tech hub

Europe’s first technology hub dedicated to the research and development of immersive arts to open in Wales this autumn.

CULTVR launches this autumn at its newly fitted home in Cardiff, bringing to the city a space dedicated to pursue genuine innovation within immersive tech.

Fitted in a 10,000 sqft facility in Penarth Road, CULTVR becomes Europe’s first immersive cross-disciplinary space with a strong focus on digital arts, live performance and 360º cinema. This unique venue allows for immersive technologies to be developed, tested and deployed, exploring new methods for storytelling within immersive performances and presentations.

Conceived by the award-winning studio 4Pi Productions, CULTVR opens its doors housing a myriad of immersive spaces including a 10ft and a 20ft stereoscopic domes, a VR playzone and the largest screen in Wales housed within a highly adaptable 40ft dome venue.

The Lab creates an environment for producers, technologists, film and theatre makers, artists, academics and performers to come together in the pursuit of this unique medium’s capabilities. 

In the coming weeks and months, CULTVR will be revealing the programme of upcoming events. For its launch this autumn it will be presenting the immersive production Juniper, a collaboration between 4Pi and the Cardiff based jazz and trip-hop band Slowly Rolling Camera. This piece was originally commissioned by Ffotogallery to present at Diffusion Festival at the Wales Millennium Centre back in April 2019.

Audiences will be able to participate in shared virtual experiences, transported to other locations around the world through live streaming in 360º and immersive visuals. In addition, CULTVR will facilitate the UK premiere of other immersive art productions and events, live music and unique shared live experiences.

4Pi will base its operations from this new facility alongside CULTVR’ resident companies, including Welsh independent record label Bubblewrap Collective, CGI studio United Filmdom and Freelance Arts Marketing Manager, Consultant and Curator Rachel Kinchin.

4Pi is an award-winning creative studio that blends powerful emerging technologies with cross-media storytelling approaches, producing immersive experiences that reach out to audiences in new and engaging ways. 4Pi develop their own creative projects and platforms, including The Dance Dome which has visited more than 30 cities across the world.

 

Wales Arts Review’s News Service is supported by:

CULTVR