First Report: Early days of the immersive exhibition network

Authored by Amy Densley, Tom Abba, and Verity McIntosh.

Over the past 10–15 years, the appetite for immersive work both from artists and audiences has grown faster than the networks supporting it. This report brings together insights and recommendations from sector experts on the challenges and opportunities facing artists, venues, and audiences in the exhibition and distribution of immersive artworks.

What can be done now, and what does the future hold?

Contributors:

• Myriam Achard, Chief New Partnerships & PR, PHI
• Catherine Allen, CEO and Lead Consultant, Limina Immersive
• Maria Astakhova, Tools & Infrastructure Engineer, Marshmallow Laser Feast
• Mark Atkin, Curator/Creator, Crossover Labs
• Lisa Brook, Artistic Director, Live Cinema UK
• Harmeet Chagger-Khan, Creative Director, Surfing Light Beams
• Asha Easton, Lead, Innovate UK Immersive Tech Network
• Darren Emerson, Artist, East City Films
• Rebecca Evans, Artistic Director and Choreographer, Pell Ensemble
• Shehani Fernando, Immersive Director, Indigo Storm
• Sarah Gamper Marconi, Head of Studio, Marshmallow Laser Feast
• Clarice Hilton, Researcher/Designer, Anagram/Goldsmiths
• Samantha King, Head of Programming, VIVE Arts
• Ingrid Kopp, Cultural Producer, Electric South
• David Lewis, Director of Communications and Development, Nerve Centre
• Ben Luxford, Director of UK Audiences, British Film Institute
• David Massey, Senior Producer, Immersive Experiences and XR Programming, Wales Millenium Centre
• Alex McRobbie, Studio Administrator / Assistant Producer, Marshmallow Laser Feast
• Liz Rosenthal, Curator and Executive Producer, Venice Biennale & Power to the Pixel
• Dr Julia Scott-Stevenson, Chancellor’s Research Fellow, University of Technology Sydney
• Dan Tucker, Producer, East City Films / independent
• Mitch Turnbull, Creative Producer/Director/Writer, Bramble Media
• Carolina Vallejo, Executive Producer, Marshmallow Laser Feast
• Jo Verrent, Director, Unlimited
• Sarah Warden, Producer, Watershed
• Eleanor Whitley, Exec Producer, Marshmallow Laser Feast
• Sarah Wolozin, Director and Research Scientist, MIT Open Documentary Lab

We extend our sincere thanks to all contributors (listed above, and those who preferred not to be named) for sharing their perspectives.

Immersive Arts is led by a consortium of producing and research partners: UWE Bristol, Watershed, Pervasive Media Studio, Innovate UK Immersive Tech Network, Nerve Centre, Cryptic, Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru | Wales Millennium Centre, Crossover Labs, Unlimited, and XR Diversity Initiative.

Funding is provided by Arts Council England and Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru | Arts Council of Wales, Creative Scotland, and Arts Council of Northern Ireland, with National Lottery support via ACW, ACNI, and Creative Scotland.

Read the report now