A unique collaboration between Hastings Contemporary and Bristol Robotics Lab is bringing telepresence robot technology to a UK gallery for the first time. One of the most iconic and much-loved British galleries of modern and contemporary art has responded to temporary closure due to the coronavirus by utilising robotics technology to provide its audiences with remote access to its exhibitions while its doors remain closed.
Hastings Contemporary, an independent charitable arts organisation on England’s south coast, has teamed up with Bristol Robotics Lab to offer members and audiences the opportunity to continue visiting the gallery and experience the best of modern and contemporary arts via the Double, a two-wheeled videoconferencing robot that can guide an operator and up to five people through real time tours of the gallery and its current exhibitions, as well as taking in the gallery’s much-loved views over the historic Stade fishing beach and English Channel. “I am absolutely thrilled to team up with Hastings Contemporary, as part of our Arts and Humanities Research Council D4D project, to provide people who are socially isolated the opportunity to enjoy art via the telepresence robot.,” says Praminda Caleb-Solly, Professor for Assistive Robotics and Intelligent Health Technologies at Bristol robotics lab, UWE. “This is an excellent example of how robotics technology can be used to support people in difficult situations such as we are currently experiencing. There are other applications for use of telepresence robots within health and social care and I look forward to learning from our experiences at Hastings to apply elsewhere.”
The telepresence robot, developed by Double Robotics, provides a revolutionary solution for arts organisations such as Hastings Contemporary in overcoming barriers of isolation. The gallery is delighted that through its adoption of this technology it will be able to continue to support families, children and older visitors alike, offering opportunities to enter the gallery space from the comfort of a sofa, bed or kitchen table.
The gallery is planning, in addition, further ways to use innovative technologies to ‘flip’ the gallery inside out so that people can continue to benefit from its work while stuck at home, including developing a new online hub of art and mindfulness resources, with the children of key workers in mind; creating bespoke digital art lessons and creative learning activities for many of the now closed schools in Hastings; and virtual 3D renderings of its three postponed Spring shows, Victor Pasmore: Line & Space, Stephen Chambers: The Court of Redonda, and Quentin Blake: We Live In Worrying Times.
“As we navigate through these testing times and manage the loss of important revenue streams, I’m thrilled to embrace such innovation and creativity,” says Liz Gilmore, Director of Hastings Contemporary. “Our trials with the telepresence robot have buoyed the team here in Hastings and will enable a new and pioneering means of continued engagement with our visitors. Next week I will be leading some virtual tours to bring to life the incredible exhibitions on offer, prioritising people who are most affected by the lockdown and are now having to self-isolate for a number of weeks. Press will also be able to join in by appointment. Recordings of these tours will be made available to the public afterwards. In this way, over the months ahead, we hope to continue our exciting future calendar of contemporary art exhibitions, and our educational and community engagement programmes.”
Situated on the dramatic seafront of Europe’s oldest fishing beach, Hastings Contemporary – formerly the Jerwood Gallery – champions modern and contemporary art, hosting several exhibitions a year, plus an exciting array of talks, workshops, community events and live music. The gallery building – designed by HAT Projects and completed in 2012 – has received nemerous architectural awards including a RIBA National Award, Civic Trust Award, Sussex Heritage Trust Award and reached the mid-list for the Stirling Prize.
To visit the gallery and be one of the first people in the UK to experience this technology please email [email protected]
APPEAL
As with many other arts organisations, Hastings Contemporary has temporarily closed its doors in the interest of its visitors’ safety and in line with the British Government’s guidelines regarding the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The gallery continues today to appeal directly to its members, past and present sponsors, and the wider community of Hastings and East Sussex to support its transition into the digital realm during this health crisis.
One-off donations to the gallery are now being accepted.
To donate £5: https://pay.gocardless.com/AL0002EBH1DZJ1
To donate £10: https://pay.gocardless.com/AL0002EBH30YS2
To donate £20: https://pay.gocardless.com/AL0002EBH6CSTY
To donate £50: https://pay.gocardless.com/AL0003033G8WP2
To donate £100: https://pay.gocardless.com/AL0003033M8Y77
Or text ARTONSEA to 70085 to donate £3
To find out more about the Hastings Contemporary visit: www.hastingscontemporary.org
Top image by Pete Jones
All other images by Will Barrett.