A virtual gallery allowing visitors to find a treasure trove of historical artefacts via their smartphone will open in All Saints Park on June 8th.
Installed in the middle of the park, the Manchester Plinth instructs visitors to download the Buzzin app and use their phone camera to reveal a digital, 3D model of an item from Manchester Metropolitan University’s vast Special Collections.
Users of the app will also be able to unlock augmented reality games to find further digital versions of historical art pieces, designed by Manchester School of Art students, that are hidden throughout the park.
The plinth itself has been produced in collaboration with Manchester School of Architecture students.
You can get involved with the project already using the Twitter hashtag #iseemoreha. The launch coincides with the Manchester School of Art Degree Show, which takes place from 9-21 June.
The project is part of CityVerve, the pilot initiative aiming to make Manchester the UK’s first ‘smart city’ through the pioneering adoption of new technology and the Internet of Things. Manchester Metropolitan University is one of 20 partner organisations involved in the scheme.
By adopting new technologies in this way, it is hoped that Manchester will act as an example to others around the world in how to promote culture within smart cities.
The first artefact held by Manchester Met’s Special Collections to be showcased on the plinth will be ‘The Casket’. Designed by Mary Houston in 1902 and purchased from an Arts and Crafts Exhibition in 1903, it was featured in a major international exhibition at the Holden Gallery in 1994.
A 3D model of the Casket designed by animator and artist Ben Jane will only be visible for Buzzin app users, which is available as a free download for Apple and Android.
The wayfinding Buzzin app has been developed by Sparta Digital, a Manchester based technology company which specialises in Internet of Things development. It can be downloaded now, allowing users to enjoy the full interactive experience as soon as they get to All Saints Park.
The city discovery Buzzin app has been developed by Sparta Digital, a Manchester based technology company which specialises in Internet of Things development. It can be downloaded for free from App Store and Google Play, allowing users to enjoy the full interactive experience as soon as they get to All Saints Park.
