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StoryTrails Legacy

 

A collage of 3D scanned images A man using a virtual reality headset in Catford Library

In the summer of 2022, StoryTrails toured libraries and public spaces across the UK, ending their tour in the borough of Lewisham. 

 

Emerging creative professionals, ‘StoryMappers’, were embedded in communities to research and collect stories, which were developed as immersive cinema, AR and VR installations and then taken back into these communities via a series of pop-up events. In September 2022, Catford Library was transformed for a unique experience that allowed local people to capture and experience their towns in completely new ways.

 

As part of the StoryTrails Legacy, a series of events will be taking place across Libraries in Lewisham, showcasing the technology and stories created, from mixed media art workshops to VR drop in sessions.

 

The People's Map

 

As part of StoryTrails, the UK's largest immersive storytelling experience, 'The People's Map' brings to life a psychogeographic representation of Lewisham. The map combines good old-fashioned audio storytelling and archive footage with cutting-edge 3D scanning technology to create a new national portrait in 2022.

Bringing together past and present, StoryTrails aims to re-connect people to their community through local stories, demonstrating what the very latest immersive technologies have to offer local storytellers. Over 400 stories and nearly 7000 scans were captured to create 15 animated maps, bespoke to each location and telling stories in new and surprising ways. StoryTrails toured the UK as a pop-up event in summer 2022, visiting 15 different towns and cities. StoryTrails was commissioned as part of UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK

 

Watch 'The People's Map' for free on BFIPlayer

Screenshot from The People's Map vieo on BFI Player

 

 

AR Trails

 

AR, (Augmented reality) is where digital objects are made to appear in the physical world usually via a mobile phone screen, or larger interactive screen .

 

Guided by the Story-Trails mobile AR app, you will be led at your own pace to different story points along a fixed route. If doing the trail on location, you will enter a virtual story portal outside the local participating library to begin your StoryTrails experience. Or you can access any of the 15 StoryTrails locations trails from home via the Story-Trails app. Using a mix of stunning augmented reality experiences that remix the BFI & BBC archives, you will experience history where it actually happened, revitalising the streets upon which you stand with new voices and untold stories of the past. Inside the library you will be immersed in a unique virtual map of Lewisham made up of 3D models, and audio stories captured on location

 

Travel through a neon portal to begin your journey exploring stories that highlight who we were in the past, who we are now, and where we are heading into the future. These AR trails were built using a range of new technologies. From LiDAR 3D scanning to spatial audio, experience storytelling like never before.

 

Download the StoryTrails App on iOS and Android

 

For help with installation, check the StoryTrails Installation Guide

Example images of augemented reality experiences