A £7.6 million transformation of the Market Hall in Devonport is set to put Plymouth on the global map as a leader in immersive technology.
Sir Nicholas Serota, chair of Arts Council England, joined creative leaders from across the country to formally open the Grade II listed building following its extensive regeneration.
The brainchild of the Real Ideas Organisation, the Market Hall is now home to a spectacular immersive dome which is the first of its type in Europe. The only other one like it in the world is in Montreal, Canada.
Tickets for the opening weekend on July 17 and 18 sold out within 24 hours of being available to the public, demonstrating the keen local interest in the cutting-edge experience.
Tickets for the dome’s first show have gone live and are expected to be snapped up. The immersive family-friendly film ‘Sea Monsters: A Preshistoric Adventure’ will allow dome-goers to meet the dinosaurs which lived in the depths of the oceans.
The Market Hall will also offer creative and collaborative workspace, learning, workshops, meeting rooms, event spaces, a production suite and a café.
Sir Nicholas Serota, chair of Arts Council England, joined Real Ideas chief executive Lindsey Hall, the Earl and Countess of Devon, and Caroline Norbury, chief executive of Creative England, to enjoy the first formal viewing within the spectacular building and immersive dome.
Needing just two projectors to cover the full surface of the immersive dome, the state-of-the-art technology creates a seamless shared virtual reality experience without the need for a headset.
The bespoke sound system, boasting 19 channels of audio, encases the dome and adds to what is a truly immersive experience with the power to transport visitors anywhere in the universe, real or imagined!
Sir Nicholas Serota said:
“At the Arts Council, we are thrilled that the eagerly anticipated innovation space, the Market Hall, and the state-of-the-art immersive dome is now open.
“Since its inception the project has excited us with its digital ambitions and impressive regeneration of a disused historic building in Devonport. The Market Hall will use cutting edge technology to create unique artistic experiences and opportunities for the community, placing Plymouth and the south west even more firmly on the cultural and technological map.
“We applaud Real Ideas’ partnership working, approach to inclusivity, and their bold vision. This world-class space will play host to creative enterprises, educational institutes, and local businesses. Local people will be at its heart – encouraging creativity in the region, helping to support the local economy, and contributing to a sense of pride in Plymouth.
“Arts Council are pleased to have been part of this journey, thanks to funding from the Government, and we are proud to have backed this innovative vision and digital leadership from the team at Real Ideas. We look forward to seeing the ripples spread far and wide from the Market Hall.”
Lindsey Hall, chief executive of Real Ideas said:
“The Market Hall really is a gamechanger, putting Plymouth and the South West of England on the map internationally as a place with an epic emerging tech cluster around immersive and creative digital.
“It is without a doubt our most audacious project to date. It is immediately relevant and offers untold opportunity as a place for jobs, research, development, exploration, learning, collaboration, economic development, and secondary economic benefits too. It’s also incredibly good fun!”
For more information visit www.realideas.org/our-spaces/ market-hall/
