Digital Art celebrated in Arts Council showcase at The MAC

Matthew Malcolm, Creative Industries Development Officer at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, commented, 

“The Arts Council was thrilled to host this event which showcased a selection of incredible digital arts projects created by NI artists, thanks to game-changing funding from The National Lottery players, Department for Communities and Future Screens NI. This investment has supported these artists in learning new skills to create art using digital and immersive technologies, and has helped to widen and diversify audiences, so that more people from all backgrounds can enjoy arts experiences.

The Arts Council’s investment in digital arts reflects our commitment to invest in creating a sector that is more supported to develop through experimentation and innovation. Our digital arts programmes encourage innovative practices that cross artform boundaries and builds digital capabilities within the Northern Ireland arts sector. We feel it is vital that artists are enabled to keep up with the changing pace of technologies and the changing needs and desires of audiences. It was wonderful to see so many people come along to the showcase to experience these ambitious, exciting projects.”

Participating artists included:

Deepa Mann-Kler

Project: ‘The Metaverse & Me’ The Metaverse & Me AR features ten artworks that combine cutting-edge digital animation with a stunning soundtrack. Each painting contains a virtual show that remains hidden until viewed through a mobile phone. Film Festivals & Awards: European XR Award 2023, FIVARS 2023, Poppy Jasper International Film Festival 2024, Award Winner Indie Cine Tube Awards 2023, Official Selection Cornwall Film Festival 2023, Award Winner Dreamz Catcher International Film Festival, Lift Off 2024.

Dee Harvey

Project: ‘Heartbeat’’ Heartbeat is the multi-award winning 360 animated VR experience based on verbatim documentary that shares a woman’s experience of miscarriage, supported by Arts Council of Northern Ireland and NI Screen. It won the Best Narrative at Raindance UK and Audience Award at Art VR 2024 in the Czech Republic

Conan McIvor

Project: ‘Living, and other afflictions. A first-person VR Theatre Experience that explores the unravelling of identity and reality. This work seeks to translate an inpatient experience of a medical doctor on the ‘other side of the fence’ into a Theatre experience that communicates his journey of fear, discovery, and hope while he was at his most vulnerable

Digital Arts Studios

Project: ‘XR Lab’ The DAS XR Research and Development Lab was established to support visual artists in exploring and experimenting with XR technologies. Through access to specialist equipment, collaborative lab sessions and expert-led workshops, artists develop immersive works using technologies such as VR, AR, AI, and projection mapping. The XR Lab fosters innovation, technical skills, and new approaches to digital storytelling. DAS present a selection of works made during the XR Lab by artists Robert Peters, Abra Dickson White & Dave Lode

Eileen McClory

Project: ‘Roots AR’ Experience ROOTS AR, where dance, poetry, and technology transform the Million Brick Peace Wall in West Belfast. Through augmented reality, audiences embark on an interactive journey beyond the wall, immersing themselves in a dynamic world that reimagines space, history, and human connection, co-created by Yellow Design and the ROOTS team, funded by the Arts Council & Belfast City Counc

Eoin Cleland

Project: ‘Help VR’ An ambitious and experimental live-action, 360 degree short drama for VR. Help was shot with a 360 camera on the streets of Belfast without a crew, by Eoin Cleland and PJ Hart. It was inspired by the real experiences that writer and star Riain felt after his legs were amputated, but he was keen that the film be fast paced and entertaining. The filmmakers were keen to avoid the long, static scenes so common in live-action VR and to put you in the seat of a wheelchair user, giving the film an urgency and vitality many VR short films lack.

Gwen Stevenson

Project: ‘Beyond the Frame’ Beyond The Frame is a playful interactive installation exploring embodiment, perception, and digital representation. Using motion capture, participants animate an artist mannequin in real time, engaging with a virtual gallery space. The work examines artistic identity, accessibility, and participation, reflecting on how technology shapes cultural spaces and redefines creative engagement.

Jordi Burns

Project: ‘KELP’ Traverse alternative realities and explore virtual dimensions with the astonishing avatars from your favourite pseudo-tropical vaporwave ensemble - KELP! - The future of live music is here - take a deep dive into an immersive and revolutionary new experience - A world’s first in AR/VR (probably!)

Katya Solomatina

Project: ‘Forming Formidable’ Forming Formidable, led by digital sculptor Ekaterina Solomatina and social engagement artist Bronagh Lawson, invited children from Diamond Youth Community to co-create an MR realm of mood-shifting monsters. Through 3D scanning, sculpting, sound layering, and motion tracking, their raw creativity fuelled an unpredictable, ever-shifting Mixed Reality adventure where whispered stories and gestures brought creatures to life.

Thomas Patrick

Project: ‘Ascend /\ VR’ Ascend /\ is an immersive VR experience that takes viewers on a profound emotional and spiritual journey. By combining cutting-edge technology with physical sensations, it transports participants to a liminal space where different realities collide and dreams emerge from the ocean spray

Reuben Brown

Project: ‘Joyride’ JOYRIDE! captures how queer contemporary artists operate technology and ‘machines’ as ‘vehicles’ of encounter, generation and activation. By definition, a “JOYRIDE!” can be defined as “a fast or dangerous ride for enjoinment in a stolen vehicle”. The work aims to capture this glamourised urgency and eroticised risk.

Ulster Touring Opera

Project: ‘Carbon Women VR’ Carbon Women VR, by Northern Irish composer Áine Mallon, reimagines the Andromeda myth with spatial audio and 3D animation. Ulster Touring Opera’s project explores immersive opera through XR and VR technologies, enhancing accessibility and engagement. This project is a collaboration with the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Dumbworld.

These ground-breaking artists, working across visual arts, music, theatre, dance and creative programming, have all been supported by Future Screens NI and The National Lottery through the Arts Council, to develop exciting, high-quality arts projects using innovative digital and immersive technologies, including Extended Reality (Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Realities) and/or games engines.

For more information on funding opportunities through the Arts Council visit www.artscouncil-ni.org/funding