Innovative Virtual Art Galleries

The internet: a powerful tool which allows us to consume an abundance of information, meet new people and collaborate globally. 

We live in a world which is driven by technology, with incredible advancements being made every day, allowing us to stay connected to the rest of the world through a few links and clicks. 
And it is these connections which is allowing communities, such as the arts, to flourish, with creatives having access to material for inspiration, a platform to showcase their work, along with opportunities to meet likeminded artistic talent! 

During the Covid pandemic, Access Creative College embraced the potential the internet held for the artistic world, by launching their Innovative Virtual Art Galleries, allowing their students to continue to showcase their incredible work and connect with the creative world!

 
I recently caught up with teachers Jimmy Mavroudis, who is the Programme Leader for Graphic Design, Film & Photography and Esports and Jessica Gowe, who is the Games Art Course Leader, as well as student Cicely Brand, who is a Level 3 Year 2 Games Art learner, to discover the inspiration behind their galleries, what they hope for these to achieve, as well as their plans for the future, too! 

What inspired you to create these virtual art galleries?  

(Ji)- The inspiration behind creating these virtual art galleries stemmed from the challenges posed by the COVID lockdown. Faced with restrictions, I sought a solution to allow our students to exhibit their work while adhering to safety protocols. As classes moved online, it made complete sense to also find ways of presenting online. I wanted to steer away from Zoom/Google meet presentations.

 
What do you hope for these galleries to achieve?

 
(Ji)- My aspiration for these galleries is to expand their reach to a broader audience, both locally and globally, by showcasing work online. Additionally, I envision them serving as valuable portfolios for our students, providing them with a platform to showcase their talent and creativity to potential collaborators, employers, and Higher Education.

 
How did you choose what pieces to feature (and where)?

 
(Ji) - The selection process for featured pieces primarily involves choosing work from projects that students have engaged with during their time at Access. These projects are usually assignment briefs or workshop tasks, but can also include personal work. Additionally, students are given the opportunity to nominate the pieces they believe deserve to be featured.

 
What challenges, if any, did you face when creating these galleries?

 
(Ji)- The biggest challenge has been trying to make them as accessible as possible. That’s why we chose a platform to host these that can be viewed in all VR with a headset, on Phones via IOS and android apps and via a web browser.  
 
What do these galleries represent (change to a digital world)?  

(Ji) - They represent a change in how we view the creative world, be it music or visual arts. These innovative platforms serve as tools, enhancing rather than replacing traditional modes of creating. Additionally, just like visiting galleries in real life, there is a community aspect, you can interact with anyone else visiting the galleries, have conversations and admire the work together.  
How important do you believe it is to recognise the diversity of the arts (game designers, artists etc)? 

Recognising the diversity within the arts is a core value here at Access and is embedded in our curriculum. It’s important that students can be open to unique perspectives, and be comfortable bringing cultural influences to the table. Embracing diversity fosters creativity and innovation and we should be encouraging that.

 
What importance does art hold in our society? 

 (Je)- Art serves as a universal language that can allow people to connect with one another. It can allow people to express their values, beliefs, culture, and it can be used as an important educational tool. It can give us a glimpse into different worlds and experiences; this has the potential to break down barriers and promote social inclusion. Also, art has been shown to have numerous positive effects on our well being, whether you are creating art or observing and interacting with it.

 
What is your favourite element of the local artistic scene/ community of Norwich/ Norfolk?  

(Je)- Norwich is a city with a vibrant art scene, and a very strong sense of community. Across the city you will find collaborative exhibitions where artists work together to curate showcases, art markets, artists’ co- operatives. There are so many brilliant spaces for artists to share and use, making the city a hub for collaboration in the art scene.

 
What advice would you give to any aspiring creatives? 

(Je)- Show your work! Whatever you make, get it out there and talk to people about it. Being active in your local creative community will allow you to build a great network and learn from others. It doesn’t have to be perfect for you to share it, you will learn so much from sharing and this will allow you to develop your skills.

 
(Ci)- Don’t be afraid to take inspiration from other artists and experiment, find what you are good at. 

 What do you wish for the future for creatives in Norwich/ Norfolk to look like? 

 The creative scene in Norwich is growing and I hope that it continues to flourish. The city has a rich creative history - we used to be the Textile design centre for the UK so we have always had creativity at the core of our community. We are lucky to have so many brilliant creative spaces of historical significance such as Norwich University of the Arts, The Playhouse Theater, Anteros Art Foundation to name a few. I hope that the continued growth will provide even more platforms and spaces for creatives to share what they are doing.  

(Ci)-  More indie studios for games, animation, art - anything creative in general. I don’t see a lot of indie games studios around and I’d love to see more of them.  

Have you got any further plans to release more galleries?  

(Ji)- We're currently in the process of recreating the college building in a virtual environment. Our goal is to allow visitors to fully immerse themselves in the gallery within the college setting. This means you'll have the opportunity to stroll through the corridors, step into classrooms, and admire artwork displayed on the walls. Additionally we would like to add more interactivity to these galleries, allowing visitors to be able to push buttons to play film, animations or music for example. They may even be able to touch or pick up artwork (unlike real galleries). 

 Artist/student specific question- Where do you look for inspiration for your pieces?

‘Since I was young, most of my inspiration has been from 2010 cartoons and PS1 games, that’s why it’s angular and vibrant.’ - Cicely Brand (Cicely has 3 pieces of artwork featured in the Games Art gallery, situated inside the darker room) (Cicely Brand is a Level 3 Year 2 Games Art learner. 
 
And, if you want to check out these amazing galleries for yourself, then you can head to - ACC Norwich - Media Gallery | Spatial, or - ACC Norwich - Games Gallery | Spatial ! 
Or, if you want to keep up to date with the amazing work of Access Creative College, then you can head to their website, at- www.accesscreative.ac.uk, or check out their Instagram (@accesscreativecollegenorwich).