VACANT units across Colchester’s city centre have been transformed into a wonderful augmented reality art trail.
The project, undertaken by seven artists, celebrates the innovative achievements of pioneering people from Colchester and explores powerful themes.
Empty shops and unused windows have been transformed into points of interest thanks to the project from Our Colchester Business Improvement District and design agency Arch Creative and Graffio Arts.
Previously unappealing units are now adorned by Damon Albarn of Blur and Gorillaz fame and other historic and significant elements of the soon-to-be city’s heritage.
The Street Stories artworks can be brought to life with an interactive augmented reality twist, where people can experience each piece in the trail through an animation triggered by a free smartphone app.
It is hoped more footfall will be encouraged by moving visitors around the city centre.
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Colchester BID manager Sam Good said: “We often have found that visitors’ main feedback for the city centre is the amount of units which appear vacant.
“This project is a great way to bring some life back into these units and other unused spaces, and advertise their potential for businesses looking to move into Colchester.
“A challenge we faced whilst running this project, however, was the lack of available units.
“Many around the city centre are under contract for businesses moving in or have renovation plans underway, which is great news.”
Street Stories topics include Colchester’s agricultural and trade roots shaped by its landscape, Jonathon Prestney’s Movement Space LGBTQ+ community and dance company and how we break connection barriers through art.
The first seven artists showcased are oil painter Maria Barnes, self-taught artist Shristina Manandhar, Denisa Mansfield, Ella Blaxill, Ann Dowden, Alice Nicholls and Eleanor Church.
Arch Creative director Joe Nixon explained he is hoping to replicate the success of similar projects in Leicester and Stirling.
“Our concept was to create an interactive street museum and highlight some important and less well-known stories to new audiences,” he said.
“It really breathes new life into these forgotten spots that would otherwise be sitting empty, perhaps indefinitely."
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