Welcome
Into virtual reality? Want to make digital art? We’re on a mission to enable people in Medway to get creative with new technology.
We hope our latest programme - that includes our popular Electric Medway Festival - will inspire you to learn, imagine and connect with nature and heritage. As always, we have some fantastic artists and partners on board to make this work possible.
Enjoy! Co-Founders
Kevin Grist and Janet Moore
ELECTRIC MEDWAY FESTIVAL
Two worlds
24-27 October 2024
Two worlds is the fifth edition of Electric Medway Festival. It is the beginning of a conversation to imagine the possibilities of a different kind of world. Through the power of creative technology, we invite you to experience, enjoy and engage with 4 days of stimulating events, glimpsing worlds you wouldn’t normally see, touch or hear. What kind of world(s) should we be building for the future?
Thursday 24 October, 2pm-4pm
Our climate of crisis
Partnering with Creative Medway, Our climate of crisis is an open discussion about our lives today, a story of how technology may have inadvertently contributed to our sense of permanent crisis. From the onset of AI and misinformation, to alarming data about the climate and mental health, could technology also pose the solutions by offering a means to imagine a better future?
Available for 1 month from 24 October
FILM
Electric Medway TV
Catherine Hoffman and John Vincent
Sit back in your sofa, get comfortable and enjoy these specially selected experimental films made by local artists that explore the themes raised in Our climate of crisis discussion (see page 4). Wormhole of our Formation by Catherine Hoffman touches on mental health, austerity and the environment, charting a personal journey through three red alert storms - Dudley, Eunice and Franklin. De Facto by John Vincent takes the idea of digital immortality - could we one day upload and preserve our consciousness and will AI be a help or hinderance?
Friday 25 October, 10am-5pm
Chatham Library & Community Hub
Riverside Gardens, Dock Road, Chatham ME4 4TX
EXTENDED REALITIES
Forest Keep
Electric Medway
Free Wheelchair accessible
Enter our fantasy woodland tent! Young people are invited to be part of Forest Keep, a new fictional story set in the future. Inside the tent use VR to see concept ideas created by young people so far, and create your own, including virtual sets of trees and sounds. Help write different choices for the narrative with Sam Hall, in collaboration with Medway River Lit Festival. Medway Libraries will also display a range of exciting fantasy books you can loan. And, help design a retro arcade game, Medway Fighter with Jon Schwochert.
Friday 25 October, from 10am
GAME PLAY
Chatham Phone Adventure Game
Docking Station and Coney
Join us for the launch of a new phone adventure game based in Chatham, created by young people for young people! Developed during the summer, it combines Medway’s rich heritage with interactive technology to offer an unforgettable family experience. Explore Chatham Waterfront like never before! The game will run for an extended period afterwards. Hosted by Docking Station and the Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries (iCCi), in partnership with London’s acclaimed arts charity, Coney.
Friday 25 October, 6pm-7.30pm
THEATRE
Oak Theatre
The Academy of Woodlands
Woodlands Rd
Gillingham
ME7 2DU
Square Pegs Arts
In the new video game in.difference, five players make dream worlds, tailored to their disabilities and differences. But their worlds aren't so perfect after all. A virus has snuck into the game and it’s brought real-world problems with it! Can our players challenge the problems and defeat the virus? Square Pegs Arts Theatre Company presents an original performance for families and children (7+), enhanced by digital technologies, puppetry and movement. Seated and wheelchair accessible.
Saturday 26 October, 6pm-9pm
LIGHT AND SOUND
Nocturnal
Various artists
An otherworldly evening of audiovisual installation revealing unseen and unheard rhythms of nature at night. Contributions from Xtina Lamb, Jane Pitt, Anna Braithwaite, Formwork, Livi Wilmore, Tom Ward, James Middleton and Josh Garner of Cybersaur Arts, Gabi Almeida, The Historic Dockyard Chatham, and Medway Superstars by 51zero.
The Old High St Intra Intra Arts/ Hulkes Lane/ Tack Room/ Hulkes Lane Darkroom & Studio/ Chatham House Free Makeglowart for Nocturnal on UK FungusDay
Saturday 5 October at Intra Arts Seewebsite
Sunday 27 October, 11am-7pm
Gillingham Park
Canterbury Street
Gillingham
ME7 5LA
Free
OUTDOOR ART
Illusions of nature
Studio Go Go and Air Giants
Join us at Gillingham Park, for an afternoon of serene and surreal activities inspired by the surrounding trees. Squeeze Me beckons playfulness with Air Giants' inflatable technology. Whilst VR thrill seekers will enjoy Volo: dreams of flight - an exciting swing experience by Studio Go Go. Plus more! A VR swing for wheelchairs will be available.
ELECTRIC MEDWAY HACK
Sector learning
Electric Medway Hack is our sector learning programme that helps local artists and educators upskill in creative technology and embed it in their work practice.
The sessions at A+E Lab are co-funded with the iCCi, University of Kent.
Sign up as a free Hack member, for more info see our website
Monday 19 August, 10am-4pm
VISUAL EFFECTS
A+E Lab, Unit 1
64 Main Gate Rd
Historic
Dockyard Chatham
ME4 4TZ
Scantobookvia
Eventbriteorvisit
electricmedwayorg
formoreinfo.
Bioluminescence
Cybersaur Arts
Did you know bioluminescent creatures em and are found throughout marine habitats? with projection and visualisation artist Josh from Cybersaur Arts to contribute to a bioluminescence-inspired visual spectacula
Nocturnal event during Electric Medway Festival (see page 9). Learn how to use interactive software for projection mapping, movement sensors, 3D animation and video effects. Wheelchair accessible.
Monday 16 September, 10am-4pm
Building collaborative worlds
John Whall
Join award-winning digital participation artist John Whall to explore his approach to collaborative worldbuilding that makes use of virtual reality and game technology. Get hands-on learning the VR and 3D modelling apps he uses, and spend time working with others to collectively create a new imaginary world.
Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday 17 September, 10.30am-3.30pm
Soul Paint
Sarah Ticho
Join award-winning Director Sarah Ticho to explore Soul Paint, an immersive VR experience at the intersection of extended realities (XR) and health and wellbeing. Learn about body mapping, find out what inspired the process to create the work, and get practical insights for partnering with the NHS. After trying Soul Paint for yourself, consider how you might design impactful and human-centred experiences for wellness. Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday 21 September, 10am-4.30pm
AUDIO
Create a soundwalk
Anna Braithwaite and Jeremy Scott
Are you interested in immersive audio, storytelling and heritage? Then this workshop is for you! Led by the creators of the Hulked soundwalk in Lower Halstow, this fun, practical workshop will get you building your own geolocated soundwalk using the ECHOES app. As well as learning new skills, you will be given space to consider different approaches and hear about Anna and Jeremys’ own experience. The workshop is indoor and outdoor. You will have access to Garageband, a Zoom recorder and 3D binaural microphone.
The Old Brickfields Lapwing Drive Lower Halstow ME9 7DZ Free
ELECTRIC MEDWAY INTRA STORIES
Young people and heritage
Intra Stories is our new project for young people to uncover the entertainment history in and around the Old High Street Intra, Chatham. From the lively theatres and cinemas to the rich music, punk and LGBTQ+ scenes, what we uncover and capture digitally will lead to the making of interactive animated hoardings and an augmented reality 'zine in 2025. Funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund.
We also run a Young Hack programme, for more info see our website
20/22 August, 7/21 September
10.30am-12.30pm / 2pm-4pm
3D SCANNING / HISTORY WALK
Scan the Street! for
11-18 yr olds
Electric Medway and Rob Flood
Scan buildings and objects in 3D along the Old High Street Intra! Uncover the hidden stories of theatre, cinema, punk music and the LGBTQ+ scene on a walk with historian Rob Flood. What you capture will contribute to the making of new digital street art in 2025. This is part of Intra Stories, our new project for young people to uncover the entertainment history of Intra. There are 8 separate walks available to book.
ELECTRIC MEDWAY NEIGHBOURHOODS
Engaging communities
We’re on a mission to make sure everyone in Medway has the opportunity to get creative with new technology. Our Digital Gazebo is touring around Medway, offering taster activities directly to communities. We are also supporting Ideas Test and The Historic Dockyard Chatham to deliver family friendly and targeted workshops in neighbourhoods such as Brompton.
We are about to launch our Men in Tech programme supporting mental health, for more info see our website.
Saturday 12 October, 10am-4pm
TRY OUTS
Digital Gazebo
Medway Fun Palace by Nucleus Arts
We will be bringing our Digital Gazebo to Medway Fun Palace 2024. Come and find us in The Pentagon Shopping Centre to try fun taster activities suitable for children and families! Get a 360 photo portrait, make a LEGO animation and try VR painting. Plus meet the team and find out about future events. Fun Palaces is a national movement to share and celebrate the genius in everyone. Produced locally by Nucleus Arts, there will be a full programme of other exciting activities on the day. Wheelchair accessible.
The Pentagon Shopping Centre Chatham, ME4 4HY Free
electricmedway.org
Every Wednesday, 5.30pm-7.30pm
Starting 21 August to 27 November
CREATIVE TECH & WELLBEING WORKSHOPS
Imagination space...
Enter the Imagination space... at Second Chance Community Centre. In these weekly drop in workshops, come and create digital art for a virtual space that will grow over time as local residents add more to it. An Ideas Test project, with the Electric Medway team supporting delivery, activities include VR painting, 3D scanning and creative writing to soundscapes. All with relaxing mood lighting, soft seating and healthy refreshments. Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday 28 August, 1pm-4pm
AUGMENTED REALITY WORKSHOP
Dockyard Mysteries
The Historic Dockyard Chatham
Uncover mysteries from the past at The Historic Dockyard Chatham! In this workshop for 10-18 year olds, you will get to build an augmented reality (AR) trail with the Electric Medway team, using the Scavengar app. The trail will be embedded in the Dockyard landscape, bringing historic stories to life. The workshop is free to attend. You do not need a Dockyard ticket or any equipment. Wheelchair accessible.
The Historic Dockyard Chatham Namur Room, next to the Mess Deck Restaurant
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A special thanks to our volunteers.
Team - Kevin Grist, Janet Moore, Oliver Carruthers, Adam Glen, Tom Ward, Jake Wood, Livi Wilmore, Jack Coleman, Kyle Mather, Teri Brunt, Tyler Austin, Lily Brooks of LB Bookkeeping, Counterculture Partnership LLP.
Advisory Board - Simon Wilkinson, Jon Rissik, Ross Buttery, Sam Rapp, Will Dutta.
Thank you to all of our partners, venues and funders. Screen South are co-funders of Livi Wilmore’s installation for Nocturnal. Leigh Academies Trust is supporting with student art work during the Festival.
Image credits: Electric Medway, Tyler Austin, Coney, Studio Go Go, Air Giants, Hulked project, Sarah Ticho, John Whall, Rob Flood, Nathan Eaton-Baudains, Catherine Hoffman and John Vincent.
