GRIN S+T+Arts Residency – AR Playful Performing Arts

European artistic residency GRIN S+T+Arts (2023-2024) held at Teatro Coliseo Porto Ageas (Portugal) and with Sons of a Bit as technical partner.

This project consisted of a series of workshops held across Spain and Portugal, exploring the potential of performing arts and augmented reality pervasive games as artistic formats for public space.

The primary aim of this artistic research was to investigate new performative models that align with contemporary cultural dynamics and engage emerging audiences through immersive and participatory experiences.

The workshops targeted Generation Z participants with backgrounds in theatre, dance, visual arts, and computing, fostering multidisciplinary collaborations. This fusion of expertise significantly enriched the creative process, enabling the hybridisation of artistic languages and methodologies.

The experimental and co-creative environment led to the development of a diverse range of of approaches and elements, including AR role-playing games, performers (actors and dancers) interacting embodying NPCs (non-player characters), game mechanics based on movement and dance, assets and asset and scenery design, among others.

A variety of cutting-edge technologies were employed for both creation and dissemination. These included motion capture sensors integrated with artificial intelligence, custom-designed NPCs, and the intuitive prototyping of geolocated experiences in the real world using mobile devices.

Furthermore, the participant experience was gamified through a card-based system that facilitated the ideation and development of artistic concepts in a playful and dynamic manner