An exciting project to promote multimedia digital innovation came to Llandudno, North Wales last week. The ‘Imagina Atlantica’ project gathered over 40 delegates from the seven partners, originating from four European countries. Research carried out by the project has recommended the project focuses on heritage and cultural tourism.
“The delegates were delighted with their stay in North Wales, between meetings we visited Conwy Castle, Plas Mawr and Oriel Mostyn Gallery. The link between experiencing our tourism offering and our local Welsh heritage has been inspirational in moving our ideas and the project forward. We have had tremendous support from our local partners, CyMAL, CADW, the Arts Council for Wales, Tourism Partnership North Wales and Bangor University through Pontio,” said Karen Padmore, Chief Executive Officer, CAST Limited.
The project will create five pilot projects using innovative digital visualisation techniques. One of the pilot projects will create visual multi-media interpretation for a section of the new ‘Pilgrims Way North Wales’. “We hope to bring together artists and visual technology experts to work on the North Wales based project, bringing the expertise of our ‘Imagina’ partners to bear on our regional cultural heritage,” said Karen.
The four countries where the project is based are Wales (North Wales), France (Poitou-Charentes), Spain (Galicia) and Portugal (North Portugal). The organisations involved are CAST Limited from Wales, GrandAngouleme the project lead from France, Deputacion de Ourense from Spain, Eixo Atlantico from Spain and Portugal, Fundacao de Juventude from North Portugal.
Each team provides its own regional expertise in computer graphics, digital visualisation and art, heritage and tourism. The project will include research, pilot projects, a competition and an educational exchange program. The exchange programme will be available to for professionals and for students between the partner Universities and colleges.
Members from the ‘Imagina Atlantica’ project gave an address to the ‘Eurographics 2011’ conference in Llandudno. This conference is the largest European gathering of computer graphics experts. It was hosted by The Research Institute of Visual Computing, RIVIC, a collaboration of research programmes led by Bangor University in partnership with the computer science departments in Aberystwyth, Cardiff and Swansea Universities.
“It was an ideal opportunity to present the aims of ‘Imagina’ at the ‘Eurographics’ conference and encourage computer graphics experts to look out for our International competition launch in September 2011,” said Karen. We’re very much looking forward to the next meeting in Ourense in Spain, when there will also be a workshop for professionals and experts on ‘Festivals’, a major strength of Wales.
