Uncovering Victoria Park's Lost Bandstand: Immersive Digital Artwork Revealed

Strategic Insights -

The once-lost bandstand in Victoria Park's history is now accessible through a pioneering digital artwork, The Storm Cone, which allows users to explore the site like never before. This groundbreaking artwork, created by artist Laura Daly, combines music and augmented reality to recreate the final performance of an interwar brass band and reveal the stories of the departed musicians. The Storm Cone has been transported to Portsmouth from Salford, where it was first commissioned in 2021, as part of the city's restoration and revitalisation of Victoria Park. This unique art experience has been made possible by a £2.4m grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Storm Cone is a unique digital artwork that brings the lost bandstand in Victoria Park to life through sound and augmented reality.
  • The artwork features newly commissioned music by Lucy Pankhurst and eight sound works by Laura Daly, recreating the final performance of an interwar brass band.
  • The Storm Cone was originally commissioned by the University of Salford Art Collection and Metal in 2021, revealing the lost bandstands of Peel Park and Chalkwell Park.
  • The artwork has been transported to Portsmouth as part of the city's restoration and revitalisation of Victoria Park, funded by a £2.4m grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
  • The Storm Cone was a finalist for the prestigious Lumen Art Prize and tells the story of loss, celebration, human strength, and fragility during the interwar years.
  • The artwork is free to use, and visitors can experience it until 30 September using the free app, which guides users to the artwork.
  • The Storm Cone was commissioned by Salford University Collection and Metal, with financial support from the National Lottery through Arts Council England and additional support from Salford School of Arts, Media & Creative Technology.

Statistics:

  • £2.4m: Grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the restoration and revitalisation of Victoria Park.
  • 1878: Year Victoria Park opened as the first public park for the people of Portsmouth.
  • 2021: Year The Storm Cone was originally commissioned by the University of Salford Art Collection and Metal.
  • 1932: Year Rudyard Kipling's poem The Storm Cone was published, interpreted as a forewarning for the Second World War.

Sources:

  • Portsmouth City Council, UK Government
  • The National Lottery Heritage Fund
  • The University of Salford Art Collection and Metal
  • Arts Council England
  • Salford School of Arts, Media & Creative Technology
  • PN Daly Limited
  • Zinc and Copper Roofing Limited
  • The Artists Agency