A collaboration of technology and art: Bournemouth – Light up Poole challenge

For this unique challenge light art festival organisers Audacious is seeking IoT technologists who could develop engaging ways of capturing audience reaction and behaviour during its flagship event ‘Light Up Poole’ – with up to £8,000 available to develop the chosen solution.

Light Up Poole – a three-night festival of light illuminating Poole’s historic town centre and waterfront, complemented by participatory events and STEM-led learning activities including in local schools and colleges. In 2019 we grew our audience reach from 20,000 to over 40,000.

Thishis challenge provides a unique opportunity to develop a collaboration of technology and art that will measure user attendance, interactions and reactions with each of the art installations. The final solution will be undertaken in collaboration with our commissioned light artist to create a visually appealing artistic installation that feeds back the captured information to attendees in real-time in an engaging and interesting way.

Audacious is all about creating ambitious, immersive, technology-led, multisensory experiences that are free and accessible. The amazing thing about light art is that it’s immediately engaging to people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds – it can instantly demystify the arts, start a discussion, take people in many directions – and enhance STEM learning in a creative way. Audacious is dedicated to creating high-quality opportunities for the public to engage with light as a creative and interactive medium that fuses arts, technology and innovation in interesting and unusual spaces. We want to excite and inspire people who aren’t experiencing the arts; our work is instantly accessible making it a terrific medium to facilitate first-time engagement and break down barriers.

Who should apply

Startups and scaleups interested in developing and commercialising IoT solutions and solving a real-world challenges in a public environment should get involved.

Next steps

Interested startups should register their interest in the open call using the form below – the full documentation on this challenge will be made available to applicants once they have registered interest.

Selected applicants will be invited to pitch their proposals to a panel from Audacious, Light up Poole and Things Connected Bournemouth; the winning team will be invited to work with Audacious and our commissioned Artist on this pilot.

Additional information

Presentations will be held at Barclays Eagle Labs, Westbourne, Bournemouth on Monday 28 October from 11.00 – applicants will need to be able to attend to pitch their proposals.

• Monday 14 October: Open call closes
• Monday 21 October: Shortlist and invite for interviews
• Monday 28 October: Interviews and award

Light up Poole will take place during the third week of February, successful applicants must commit to providing working solutions capable of being deployed by this date.

If you would like to find out more about the programme please contact [email protected]

If you are interested in finding out how you can get involved, please register below.