Present Futures: Virtual and Augmented Reality in Art 2023

A first-of-its-kind collaborative short course on the impact of new technologies on contemporary art and its institutions, delivered by RCA Executive Education with Acute Art.

Overview

In a first-ever collaboration between the RCA and Acute Art, the inaugural "Present Futures: Virtual and Augmented Reality in Art" short course featured guest contributions from world-leading artists working in the field of augmented reality (AR), plus site visits to galleries and studios across London over five intensive days from 28 August to 3 September 2023.

Course Structure

Led by Daniel Birnbaum (Director, Acute Art) and John Slyce (School of Arts & Humanities, RCA) the course boasted interactive sessions with 17 guest speakers, including globally recognised artists Es Devlin, Olafur Eliasson and Brian Donnelly (KAWS); leading art world figures such as Hans Ulrich Obrist and Vignesh Sundaresan (Metakovan); and RCA academics.

Based at the 180 Strand creative hub (Acute Art headquarters) and the Royal College of Art Campuses, site visits to Serpentine South Gallery, the National Gallery, Outernet and the Gilbert and George Centre allowed participants to immerse themselves in 21st-century AR art in contemporary institutions.

Outcomes

Participants came away with an introductory understanding of the impact of immersive technologies and on contemporary art and its institutions, including: how today’s visual media (AR, VR and AI) will expand how we make, present and experience art; the curatorial significance of these new visual technologies and implications for cultural institutions regarding commissioning, curation and conservation; and how these new art forms might be shown, circulated and collected, and by whom.

Participants channelled these themes into the creation and presentation of a final digital project, showcasing the convergence of new technologies and artistic expression.

Find out more about the next course on 9, 10 & 13 May 2024.

School of Arts & Humanities

Hans Ulrich Obrist session at the Serpentine Gallery
Gallery visit, Gilbert and George Studio
AR project creation
Final drinks celebration at Dazed offices, 180 Strand
Course leader Daniel Birnbaum at the National Gallery visit
Hans Ulrich Obrist session at the Serpentine Gallery
Immersive art demonstrations at Outernet

“The course was great. It gave me understanding of the varied landscape of immersive tech and art and also helped me direct and position my future work. It’s given me a jumpstart into my current projects working on immersive art experiences for self-discovery.”
Anne Hsu, Lecturer at Queen Mary University of London
“An insightful, fast-paced week that thrusts you into these new worlds.”
Reece Owen, Photographer
“Present futures has been a revelationary experience that has profoundly touched the soul of my practice, re-imagining possibilities of creation, sense of place and intentionality.”
Julia Mahrer, Urban artist, Art Director, Educator at RCA
“A truly interdisciplinary experience. I was so impressed by the range of fields the course was able to draw upon both in terms of speakers and students.”
Thomas McLucas, RCA graduate