Discover the past, present and future of St Helens town centre with exciting new augmented reality trail

Article date: 27 September 2022

CulturEd (St Helens Cultural Education Partnership) has worked with a number of creative practitioners, schools and alternative provision providers to present 'HERE' - a new augmented reality (AR) experience to showcase virtual artworks, sound installations and performances to create a digital portrait of the past, present and future of St Helens.  

Using St Helens Community Archive as a starting point, participants worked with artists and performers to consider the history, geography, social make-up and diversity of the town.  

Working collaboratively, participants explored issues relevant to them to create a portrait of St Helens using new technology. Bringing the artwork together, the lead digital organisation, Impossible Arts, developed an app which allows anyone to engage with this outdoor virtual exhibition, with QR codes placed around St Helens town centre. 

Councillor Anthony Burns, St Helens Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Culture and Heritage, said: "Given the developments in technology meaning audiences of all ages can actively engage with AR, we have harnessed this interest to explore how it can be used to share multimedia artwork - usually confined to a gallery or performance space - to St Helens town centre. 

"Next time you're in town, be sure to look out for QR codes placed in different locations. Viewed through any device, you'll be able to experience videos, music, sounds and images to be transformed into the artwork to feel as though you're actually there." 

'HERE' is available now until the Monday 31 October 2022.

Find out more at: https://www.impossible.org.uk/here/