Virtual Reality Arts Development Lab + VR Manchester Summer Mixer (Manchester Edition)

Virtual Reality Arts Development Lab + VR Manchester Summer Mixer (Manchester Edition)

What is it?

From Wednesday July 19th to Sunday 23rd July 2017---- VR Arts / Future Artists will be holding its first Virtual Reality Development Lab in Manchester in partnership with the Digital Innovation MMU — based in The Shed on MMU’s Manchester City Campus — alongside our technology partners Cooler Master, HTC Vive, CCL Computers and Unity with support from the BBC, VR Manchester, MMU, Manchester
City Council and the Royal Society of Arts.

Contact us here info@futureartists.co.uk
and our dedicated Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1537457282955910/

The aim of the 4 days is to allow creators in the emerging art form of Virtual Reality to collaborate, share ideas, experiment and learn in an inclusive workshop environment with their VR peers - days will be supervised with industry experts on hand to answer questions and each day will have a special Knowledge
Building workshop which will be free for participants to attend (subject to availability, these workshops will be open to the general public – to be announced late June)

So if you want to 'make, play and create' in VR for 4 days in July please read on.

Why do this?

VR
Arts (Virtual Reality Arts) was founded in 2016 by Future Artists MD Mark Ashmore as a Research and Development project to explore the new art form of Virtual Reality.

At Future Artists we believe that understanding theatre, art and story telling fused with computer science, sociology and an understanding of spatial design are just a few of the key ingredients needed to make the perfect Virtual Reality experience – but as this art form is so new, we need to train the chefs to work together and to explore an ever expanding pantry of creative tools.

By bringing together artists and computer programmers, game world designers and poets, actors and digital creative directors and putting them all in a lab space with technology, leaders in the field
and most importantly time to experiment, we believe that participants will be able to take a giant leap forward with this art form.

Who is this for?

Our opening event on Wednesday evening is for everyone with an interest in VR and then as the lab progresses two distinct professional pathways have been created, see which best suites you below.

Wednesday July 19th 6pm until 10pm is open to everyone -

VR Manchester is hosting a summer mixer for 200 people at the Digital Innovation MMU -
this event is sponsored by VR Arts / Future Artists, Cooler Master and Digital Innovation MMU - Food and refreshments will be available. This event is free to attend, although a ticket will be required. The
event will consist of Talks, Demos, Networking and a chance to try
some of the latest VR games and experiences on HTC Vive - Full
details here https://www.meetup.com/VRManchester/

Thursday 20th July through to Sunday 23rd July 2017

We have created two pathways that will run over these 4 days, please read which one is suitable for you.

Pathway 1 - VR Development Hackathon Lab -

Are you a games maker with experience in Unity and games engines, a creator of 360 video
content, have you created VR for mobile or PC already, do you have your own workstation and software and you want to meet up to 25 like-minds from across the UK in Manchester and build something in VR
in just 4 days, then pathway 1 is for you - more details on our equipment and workshops below.

Pathway 2 -

Are you starting out on your VR Journey, do you work in Theatre, Film, Art, Photography, do you create games and digital experiences and thinking how VR can be used as a tool to create new
and exciting work in your current artistic discipline, then pathway 2 is for you - more details below.

How will it work on the days

Day 1 - Thursday 20th July 2017 - 10am till close

Morning
workshop Pathway 1 + 2 - Welcome and Introduction + workshop 1:
Story telling, Character and Space in VR

Pathway
1 - Hackathon begins - development and introductions.

Pathway
2 - Introduction to VR and the Possibilities of an artistic tool, the
group will work with the HTC Vive and an array of experiences to
explore VR as a tool, experience and story-telling medium.

Day 2 - Friday 21st July 2017 - 10am till close

Morning
Briefing workshop for Pathway 1 and 2 - show and tell.

Pathway
1 + 2 Workshop '3D Printing your Virtual Reality Space' - a two hour
workshop on the practicalities, uses and pioneering work being done
with VR and 3D printing.

Pathway
1 - Hackathon Continues

Pathway
2 - Group work – let’s make and play in VR.

The day will end with a mixer and a show and tell from both pathways for
networking and ideas sharing.

Day 3 - Saturday 22nd July - 10am till close

Pathway 1 workshop - Developing in Unity for Creators and Introduction to new
VR creation tools which are new for late 2017

Pathway 2 workshop - Artists from Pathway 1 will merge and work with Pathway
2, using their skillsets to enhance the developers work.

The day will end with a mixer and a show and tell from both pathways for
networking and ideas's sharing.

Day 4 - Sunday 23rd July - 10am till close

Pathway 1 + 2 working towards the final show and tell at the end of the
session around 4pm and we get to see what has been created and
explore what we have learned.

What will we supply

Over the course of the 4 days VR Arts will supply the following

The space including – co-working space for computers, VR Lab space,
meeting rooms, break out space, access to a variety of MMU assets
including 3D and 2D Printing, Design workshops, Mac Suites – more
TBC

Time to show your VR creations

3 HTC Vive VR Systems, including PC's and full kit + a range of VR
experiences, in 3 5x5m VR zones.

Access to Unity software for the creation of experiences

Access to a full suite of VR software and applications (full list announced
on our facebook page)

Access to a range of workshops and industry professionals in VR, Film, Art,
Theatre and Computer Science + many more to build your knowledge in
this new art form.

An itinerary and module program so that participants get the best out
the days led by workshop leaders.

What you need to supply

Pathway
1 – to take part in the Hackathon for VR you will need to bring
your workstation with you, and any software, applications and
hardware that you think will help you 'make, create and play' – you
will be able to compliment your workstation with the lab’s kit.

Pathway
2 – Please bring with you, laptops, pens, paper and anything else
from your art field that might be useful, cameras, editing suites,
paint brushes, arts and crafts etc – you will be able to access
everything in the lab including the 3 x HTC Vive kits and also
interact and work with pathway 2 participants as the project evolves.

How many people will be on the course?

Pathway 1 has space for around 25 people, so each person has a dedicated
workstation

Pathway 2 has space for just 10 people

How do I book?

Please choose a ticket that is suitable for your needs, please note, that if
you are attending both the opening Party hosted by VR Manchester and
the VR arts Lab, you will need to get two tickets.

Pathway 1 tickets are clearly marked

Pathway 2 tickets are clearly marked

Tickets are per person, if you are coming as a team, you will need one ticket
per person.

I only want to come to part of the lab, will I have to pay in full?

We encourage people to come to at least 50% of the lab days, so that you
get to work with the entrepreneurial peer group of VR creators, so
think before you book. You can come to part of the lab, but we can't
offer a discount.

How much is it?

Tickets are priced per person, if you are coming as a team or company you
will need one ticket per person.

VR Manchester mixer is free – places limited to 200

Pathway
1 is £40 early bird (£80 full price) for the full 4 days (25
spaces)

Pathway
2 is £40 early bird (£80 full price) for the full 4 days (10 space)

Opening hours

Wednesday 19th
July is an evening event starting at 6pm till 10pm

The lab opens 10am daily and will close early evening.

Full opening hours will be sent to participants and are subject to change.

How can I contact you for more information?

Please e-mail VR Arts at info@futureartists.co.uk
– subject VR Arts

and
join our Facebook page here, you can also message us through here
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1537457282955910/

About VR Arts

VR Arts (Virtual Reality Arts) was founded in 2016 by Future Artists MD
Mark Ashmore as a Research and Development project to explore the new
art form of Virtual Reality.

At Future Artists we believe that understanding theatre, art and story telling fused with computer science, sociology and an understanding of spatial design are just a few of the key ingredients needed to make the perfect Virtual Reality experience – but as this art form is so new, we need to train the chefs to work together and to explore an ever expanding pantry of creative tools.

By bringing together artists and computer programmers, game world designers and poets, actors and digital creative directors and putting them all in a lab space with technology, leaders in the field
and most importantly time to experiment, we believe that participants will be able to take a giant
leap forward with this art form.

MarkAshmore would like to thank all our sponsors and supporters for believing in this project.