Phygital park life

Set in Chalkwell Park, the regeneration project is curated by Simon Poulter, who has commissioned works that are designed to be ‘surprising, funny, informative and thought-provoking’.

Installations include poetry journeys, a lucid dreaming experience, an animated social history told from the perspective of trees, and a mindfulness-based story that draws attention to physical and emotional responses to natural elements.

People walk around the park wearing headsets plugged into phones or tablets to experience these audio-visual additions to trees, lawns, ponds and wildlife. While some of the digital content is educational – such as information on types of leaves and creatures – some is lighthearted and some is aimed at children.

The initiative is led by Metal, an arts catalyst that works with local authorities and institutions to prompt local regeneration through creative ventures. The park is one aspect of Metal’s new research and education centre, Metal Art School, that hopes to attract innovative creatives to work in its digital studio, in turn stimulating change for Southend.

Continuing its innovative use of storytelling and Faction within community engagement, Metal is working with Southend primary schools on its NetPark education programme. With software partners Calvium they have developed a story-building app that helps children to develop, write and code located narratives.