Flagship Project

Digital Spaces

Neon8 are proud to have been an integral part of an ambitious public library VR programme. From headset onboarding to VR180 films and masterclasses, find out more below about the programme and our role within it.

Phase 1

The first phase of the Digital Spaces project began for Neon8 in 2022 when The Space approached Neon8 to deliver a week of VR180 workshops and filming experience for young people in and around Coventry. From those we produced 4 short films that were then housed on Coventry Central Library VR headsets and formed part of the Digital Spaces Showcase.

Phase 2

Digital Spaces Phase 2 was the ambitious follow up to Phase 1 — aiming to bring immersive VR technology and digital cultural experiences into public libraries across England. Funded by ACE and BFI, Neon8 were delighted to be asked by The Space to be a delivery partner for the whole project, alongside other key partners, Virtual Umbrella.

Neon8's role was twofold: as the hands-on 'onboarder' for the VR headset tour across every partner library, and as the creative and production lead for a funded strand of original filmmaking, masterclasses, and a custom-built app.

Our vision from the outset was that the Digital Spaces app would become the foundation of a future immersive archive — accessible through headsets within libraries, giving communities a new way to encounter and preserve their own stories.

11Original VR180 Films

9Library Services Featured

2Phases Completed

2Digital Commissions

Leeds Libraries masterclass participant with ambisonic mic at Harewood House — One of the Leeds Libraries masterclass participants, complete with ambisonic mic, on location at Harewood House.

Harewood head gardener Trevor talks about Capability Brown's gardens — Harewood head gardener, Trevor talks to us about Capability Brown's spectacular landscaped gardens.

Participants from the Cambs Libraries Masterclass for Life on the Cam in VR180 — Participants from our Cambs Libraries Masterclass, as part of our Digital Commission project, 'Life on the Cam' in VR180.

Daniel Lismore — Be Yourself, as Everyone Else is Taken — Daniel Lismore — Phase 1 commission.

Singer/Songwriter Marty Longstaff performing at The Bunker Rehearsal Rooms — Marty Longstaff at The Bunker Rehearsal Rooms for our Sunderland Libraries films.

Filming at a blacksmith's forge for Inspire Libraries, Nottinghamshire — We filmed at a Blacksmith's forge for our films with Inspire Libraries, in Nottinghamshire.

Screenshot from the Digital Spaces VR180 films app — A screenshot from our Digital Spaces VR180 films App.

Click to cycle photos

What We Delivered

VR Headset Onboarding

Kelman visited each library on the tour — supporting staff on how to operate the VR headsets and guiding them through the licensed content.

VR180 Masterclasses

As part of a dedicated funded strand, Neon8 conceived and delivered VR180 filmmaking masterclasses for library staff and communities across the partner services.

11 Original VR180 Films

We produced 11 original VR180 films featuring stories and subjects from the local communities of five partner library services.

The Digital Spaces App

We conceived and built the Digital Spaces app to house and distribute the films. Our vision is for the app to serve as the foundation of a future immersive archive, allowing library communities to access locally-rooted VR content through headsets within their own spaces.

Interested in a Similar Project?

Whether you're a library service, cultural institution, or public body exploring immersive media, we'd love to talk about what's possible.

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