‘Street Stories’- Augmented Reality Art Trail transforms the city’s vacant units Our Colchester Business Improvement District (BID) has worked with design agency Arch Creative and Graffio Arts to deliver a spectacular new vacant units project, designed to improve the appearance of empty shops and unused windows in the city and transform them into points of interest. Working with seven local artists spanning a range of styles and mediums, Street Stories celebrates the innovative achievements of pioneering people from Colchester and explores some powerful themes including neurodiversity, identity, mental health, the city’s history and local icons.

A range of visually unappealing units and underutilised spaces in the city centre have been turned into living works of art, and a trail has been created which people can follow around the streets of Colchester in a safe and secure way. These large-scale artworks will be brought to life in visitors hands with an interactive Augmented Reality (AR) twist, where you experience each piece through multi-sensory animation, and triggered by a free downloadable smartphone app. By moving visitors around the artworks it will encourage footfall across the city centre. The augmented reality feature gives another dimension to the artworks, providing an added draw and making it a great outdoor activity for all ages to engage with.

Arch Creative Director Joe Nixon explains why the project is so important: “These installations have been a huge success 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. We’ve been able to give a platform to Britain’s skilled artists and showcase each city’s talent, character and history. Along with their artistic and cultural value, these pieces have helped drive the local economies, improving the atmosphere along the trails and promoting the empty stores. Most of the vacant spaces end up being filled by new businesses. It really breathes new life into these forgotten spots that would otherwise be sitting empty, perhaps indefinitely.”

Arch Creative developed the Street Stories content, creating seven immersive animations, and have partnered with digital agency Graff.io Arts and their new AR app to complete the experience.