An augmented and virtual reality company is working on a digital tapestry that will examine the region’s rich history and long-lasting effects as part of the continuing Spirit of the Highlands project at Inverness Castle.
Zubr Curio, based in Bristol, is a digital interpretation provider with a strong reputation among the Highland Council’s target audience of museums, art galleries, libraries, and historic places.
Zubr Curio will be responsible for creating state-of-the-art, interactive technology to supplement the finished artwork and the stories told in the embroidered panels used in the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands.
In their contract award announcement, High Life Highland (HLH) claimed they would “bring the panels to life for new audiences” through the use of animation, engaging filters, question and answer session instances, video, and the creation of a one-of-a-kind experience that would allow interaction with the artwork itself.
Zubr Curio and High Life Highland are now organising a journey to the region to capture interviews with stitching volunteers and landscape pictures in order to enhance the digital portrayal of the tapestry. This will allow for a more accurate representation of the tapestry.
The scope of what companies like Zubr Curio can provide for the arts, culture, and history is impressive, according to Councillor Ian Brown, the head of the Inverness City and Area Council and co-chair of the Inverness Castle delivery group.
With this innovative digital interpretation, users can share cultural heritage across generations, and you may visit the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands from any location.
Zubr Virtual Reality Ltd. project manager Amy Stewart commented that in combination, Zubr Curio’s unique and entertaining augmented reality approach and the stitching groups’ and tapestry team’s experience in telling the history of the Highlands and Islands make for an interesting relationship.
In combination, Zubr Curio’s unique and entertaining augmented reality approach and the stitching groups’ and tapestry team’s experience in telling the history of the Highlands and Islands provide a fascinating collaboration.
Zubr Virtual Reality Ltd.’s Simone Einfalt, a visual content producer, remarked that they will explore the Highlands’ vibrant villages on their journey there in April. To highlight the region’s magnificent variety, they will make a series of mini-documentaries that examine personal narratives, cultural history, and the landscape in relation to its architectural features.
It will contribute to the ongoing success of the Spirit of the Highlands and Islands project as a part of Zubr Curio’s expansive digital interpretation.
When Inverness Castle reopens in 2025, the finished tapestry panels will be displayed there as well as at local sites all around the Highlands and Islands.
The Highland Council and High Life Highland are collaborating on the Spirit of the Highlands and Islands initiative, which is being carried out in conjunction with VisitScotland.
Visitors will be inspired by the Spirit of the Highlands and Islands initiative to attend and support festivals and events, tourist attractions, and outdoor sites all around the region, as well as to explore and experience all of the Highlands and Islands.
The Natural and Cultural Heritage Fund (NCHF), managed by NatureScot and financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), is providing the funding (ERDF).
A total of £30 million in funding from the Scottish and UK governments, the Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and other partners will go into the refurbishment of the Castle, which is expected to reopen in 2025.
