Staff and students at UWS win prestigious international award

The pan-European Bridging Digital project used state-of-the-art technology to share digital art, including augmented reality, virtual reality, digital theatre, animation and podcasts. 

It has now been recognised with a highly sought-after Erasmus+ Best Practice Award.

As part of the project, staff and alumni of New Media Art contributed to developing an augmented reality display – accessed using smartphones via a QR code – telling the story of Christian Shaw, who as an 11-year-old, played a notorious role in the Bargarran Witch Trials in 1697, giving testimony which led to the execution of seven people for witchcraft.

She would then go on to found Paisley’s world-famous thread industry.

In addition to this, students produced a stunning animated story of local heritage, which was projected onto the side wall of Dunure Castle in Ayrshire.

Dunure projection (Image: UWS)

Lecturer and artist Trent Kim, who collaborated with students on the project, said: "The innovative techniques used to share these remarkable stories are reflective of the tremendous and thoughtful work done by BA New Media Art students on a regular basis.

"I am incredibly proud of the role they have played in this project."

Professor Katarzyna Kosmala, chair in Culture, Media and Visual Arts at UWS, added: "This was an international project of high prestige, and it is a testament to our students and academics that we were able to play such a pivotal role in it. 

"Earlier this year I chaired a Bridging Digital symposium showcasing the best practice examples from across Europe and Scotland, featuring our students and staff work.

"I am delighted that this impactful project has received a good practice accolade from the EU."

To find out more about studying BA New Media Art at UWS, visit https://www.uws.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduate-course-search/new-media-art/.