Low angle of the outside of the dome

Cutting-edge technology will bring history to life at Brighton Dome

History & Heritage, Heritage & Tours, News

Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival have joined forces with Digital Catapult, the UK authority on advanced digital technology, to launch Heritage XR and develop three pioneering immersive experiences inspired by the history and heritage of Brighton Dome’s Corn Exchange.

The FutureScope Heritage XR programme, supported by Wired Sussex, is a 16-week initiative designed to drive ideas and innovation utilising 5G and immersive experiences within the UK heritage sector.

Three companies have been chosen to tell the history of our Grade I listed Corn Exchange using advanced digital technologies including augmented reality (AR), ambisonic (surround) sound and 5G to create bespoke interactive experiences that will allow audiences to explore and engage with the venue’s rich heritage stories. The companies are: Brighton-based, BAFTA-nominated Immersive Networks Collective Ltd; OmBeond, an award-winning production studio; and dynamic augmented reality makers, SENSEcity.

Part of Brighton’s Royal Pavilion Estate and originally constructed as the Prince Regent’s Riding House, the Corn Exchange boasts a rich and varied history, including serving as a hospital during World War I and playing a key role during Brighton’s suffragette movement. The resulting virtual experiences will provide visitors with the opportunity to immerse themselves in Brighton Dome’s rich architectural and social history.

“As a live performance venue, Brighton Dome aspires to deliver contemporary angles on these amazing buildings, both the famous stories and those previously hidden until now. We are enormously grateful to all the amazing companies who applied to take part in Heritage XR and we can’t wait to see our audiences immerse themselves in the showcase experiences this July.”
Tanya Peters Director of Programming and Participation, Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival
“Technology is bringing the arts, culture and heritage sector into an exciting new era. We’ve worked with Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival for a number of years on truly groundbreaking technology programmes, and we couldn’t think of a better place to demonstrate why immersive experiences offer a fresh perspective for engaging new and existing audiences in novel ways.”
Jessica Driscoll Director of Immersive Technology at Digital Catapult

We previously collaborated with Digital Catapult to host the world’s first 5G Festival and are the only cultural venue in the UK hosting a 5G testbed. Together, these projects are leading examples of a shared ambition to adopt the latest technologies and support long term economic growth in the UK’s arts and entertainment industries.

Following this period of development, the Heritage XR immersive experiences will be showcased at Brighton Dome in July 2023.  

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