Category: Bristol

Immersive realities: creativity runs wild at Wake the Tiger

Alumni Team | 4 June 202419 June 2024

Wake The Tiger has recently opened a huge extension to it’s immersive reality Amazement Park ®. We spoke to our alumni and staff working there to find out more about the immersive technology scene, why it’s popular and the serious message behind the experience.

What is Wake The Tiger?

From a quiet corner of St Phillips in Bristol, Wake The Tiger takes you through a portal into an incredible imaginary world. You’ll emerge two hours later from an adventure in another dimension.

It’s an immersive out-of-this-world experience unlike anything you’ve seen before. A self-guided walk through a labyrinth of sensory spaces, designed to transport you into another world where you are an active player in an unfolding story.

What is meant by ‘immersive reality’ and ‘immersive technologies‘?

“Virtual reality, immersive theatre, interactive technology, escape rooms, and gaming all have a lot in common. These kinds of mediums directly involve the audience, their audiences do rather than watch.”
explains Fi Nicholson, UWE Bristol alum and Creative Assistant at Wake The Tiger.

“There are many different types of immersive experiences, some are location-based experiences, and some use digital technologies to stimulate spatial environments. Regardless of their form, all immersive experiences share the common goal of evoking the sensations and emotions of ‘being there’.”
Sophie Shaw, Creative Producer at Wake The Tiger and Events lecturer at UWE Bristol.

From innovative virtual technology to intricate hand-made creative art installations, motion triggered soundscapes and interactive projections, Wake the Tiger embraces all means to weave their story and transport you far from a mundane reality. Watch this short clip.

Why do people love this kind of imaginative play?

“I find imaginative play a lovely way to get audiences to break out of their comfort zone and embrace something different. Not only are they learning something new about themselves, but they are generally more receptive to being open-minded in general.

Personally, I enjoy pure escapism that lets me forget the real world!

It is an inherent human instinct to play! People are born to laugh, be silly, and be weird, we just grow out of it and start wearing suits and ties. Experiences like Wake The Tiger offer a way to tap back into our childhood imaginations. We give audiences permission to open their mind and relax into silliness.”
Fi Nicholson

We live in a chaotic, stressful, and at times frightening world. Immersive experiences give people permission to play. Audiences are enveloped on all sides – you can get lost, express yourself creatively, and have a transformative experience, all in a safe space.”
Sophie Shaw

What if it’s all a bit over stimulating?

Some people love heightened sensory spaces and sound and visual stimulation, but not everyone. Wake the Tiger have designed the experience to be as accessible as possible.

“Our ‘sensory sensitive sessions‘ are for people who could potentially find a visitor attraction overwhelming when open to the general public. They may prefer less people and an environment where any sensory stimulation is managed, including the lights and sounds.”
Abbie Baker, UWE Bristol alum and Marketing Manager at Wake The Tiger

What’s the deeper meaning and why are visitors searching for funga?

Visitors arrive into the alternate world of Meridia, a place devastated by climate and societal breakdown due to industrialization and mass-consumerism.

The ‘Guilds’ work tirelessly to restore Meridia’s ecosystems and conserve its remaining flora and fauna through wild experiments. Their ground-breaking experiments reveal the transformative power of funga.

“The underlying message is that transformation is possible. Even in the darkest of times, hope remains. Our world may be damaged and depleted, but we have the power to heal it.

We use the creative process to raise awareness of real-world eco-activism initiatives. A recent example is the Flora Fauna Funga campaign for greater fungal inclusion in conservation policy.

We proudly gave funga a central role in the story in the Dream Factory and use the term ‘funga’ within the narrative to honour its equal importance with flora and fauna.”
Sophie Shaw

More on the creative technology scene in Bristol…

“The immersive and interactive tech scene is thriving! And very welcoming.

Pervasive Media Studio has recently announced Undershed, a dedicated space to bring immersive art and tech to the masses opening this Autumn.”
Fi Nicholson

Bristol’s leading creative technology scene is harnessing the power of extended, augmented and virtual reality technologies. Immersive Arts – led by UWE Bristol with Pervasive Media Studio and Watershed – is a new programme funding artists looking to break boundaries and map frontiers in these new worlds.

Our short film

When we met Fi and Abbie and they showed us around Wake The Tiger, we made this film too. Hear them talk more about their career journeys and take a look inside…

With thanks to:

Fi Nicholson

BA(Hons) Filmmaking & Creative Media, 2017.

Creative Assistant, Wake The Tiger.

Fi on LinkedIn

Abbie Baker

BA(Hons) English, 2021 and MSc in Digital Marketing, 2022.

Marketing Manager, Wake The Tiger

Abbie on LinkedIn

Sophie Shaw

Creative Producer, Wake The Tiger and Events lecturer at UWE Bristol.

Sophie on LinkedIn

Co-curating Colston: confronting Bristol’s history

Alumni Team | 10 April 202410 April 2024

The fallen statue of slave trader Edward Colston is among the items on display at M Shed’s newly extended exhibition about the history of protest in Bristol.

Black Lives Matter marches in June 2020 saw protestors pull down the statue and throw it into the floating harbour. It was then temporarily housed at M Shed whilst a survey asked the city what should happen next to the statue.

Alumni and staff from UWE Bristol were at the centre of these debates and decision-making processes; being represented on both the We Are Bristol History Commission – responsible for the public consultation, and the working group at M Shed – which fed into the development of the protest exhibition, including the display of the statue.

Professor Shawn Sobers, Associate Professor Estella Tincknell, Dr Roger Griffith MBE, Dr Edson Burton MBE (PhD, 2005), and Olumide Osinoiki (BA(Hons) Photography, 2020) all played an important role in co-curating this important exhibition.

They shared their views on this work and the crucial conversations it explores about racial injustice in Bristol and more widely.

The Colston statue in an exhibition after the Black Lives Matter protest in Bristol

**Why was the We Are Bristol History Commission survey important?**

“Given the controversial status of the statue… it was vital that the History Commission listened to Bristol voices from across the whole city concerning its future.” – Associate Professor Estella Tincknell

“Local experts were consulted, not just decision-makers with power over the narrative. That level of equity is truly valuable. Not just for us, but for the next generation who will view the past in a more informed manner.” – Olumide Osinoiki

“The survey and the temporary display of the statue were starting points for further conversation, for figuring out how to heal the fractured divides in the city and how to deal with the city’s past involvement in the transatlantic trafficking of African people.” – Professor Shawn Sobers

“The survey made it possible to say we had a mandate from all walks of life, which broadly supported the statue coming down or at least being consigned to ‘archival’ history. We could proceed safe in the knowledge that the statue would not become a fault line in the city’s cohesion.” – Dr Edson Burton

How do you feel about having played a pivotal part in the co-curation of the Edward Colston statue in M Shed?

“I feel ambivalent about having played a central role in the whole thing. My ambivalence stems from my feelings about having to have these conversations in the first place.

The summer of 2020 was such an emotional and exhausting time. We were in the middle of the coronavirus lockdown and faced with the brutal murder of George Floyd, which sparked the Black Lives Matter protests, that resulted in the statue being toppled.

I am glad I was asked and proud of what we collectively achieved, but it is a difficult thing to celebrate and be happy about. I live with the complexities of the conversation every single day.” – Professor Shawn Sobers

“I am particularly proud of being part of a process where the city’s institutions rose to the challenge of working together for the health of the city for now and for the future.” – Dr Edson Burton MBE

“It really was an honour and a privilege to be involved. Rising Arts Agency is all about empowering young leaders and I’m glad they presented me with the opportunity to have my say.” – Olumide Osinoiki

What have you learnt through the process?

“I was pleased to witness the care and attention of both the History Commission and the M Shed team. Everyone took on the task seriously, thoughtfully, carefully, professionally.” – Professor Shawn Sobers

“Our reaction to educating others through an accurate representation of history is still often based in our own egotistical instincts and bias.” – Olumide Osinoiki

“I felt heartened by my fellow Commissioners’ care for the city. I was also highly impressed by the work of our heritage teams who managed the data collection and helped us to analyse the data which informed our conversations.” – Dr Edson Burton MBE

What do you hope the exhibition achieves?

“I hope it is the start of a conversation, not the end, about the transatlantic slave trade, about Empire and about what it means to be British. We need to move away from smooth juvenile narratives of a united past.” – Dr Edson Burton MBE

“Humility. My hope is that instead of ego, this exhibition would be met with the necessary humility to learn.” – Olumide Osinoiki

“I hope the exhibition acts as a monument, not to Colston, but to the contested history the statue represents, including the complex histories of Bristol and its citizens, and the events that brought it down.” – Associate Professor Estella Tincknell

“I hope it provides an educational entry point for all and adds to the untold story about where and how Colston got his money and what can happen next.” – Dr Roger Griffith MBE

“The anti-racism struggle and the fight for equality and justice were never about statues, it was about housing, education, criminal justice and structural inequalities.

My hope for the exhibition is that it keeps that wider context and conversation alive. It is an important part of our collective history we all need to learn from.” – Professor Shawn Sobers

Signs from the Black Lives Matter protest in Bristol

What are your dreams for Bristol’s future?

“I hope that we deepen the conversation beyond toppling and renaming. The structural inequalities of race and to an extent class that we see today are legacies of the transatlantic slave trade.” – Dr Edson Burton MBE

“More young leaders. More sustainable ways to better understand and look after each other. Just like this commission has provided!” – Olumide Osinoiki

“A more equal, less segregated city in which inequalities of wealth, health, social capital and cultural capital are significantly diminished.” – Associate Professor Estella Tincknell

“That our shared history is properly taught in schools, colleges and universities.” – Dr Roger Griffith MBE

“I came to first work and live in Bristol in 1995, and we were having the same conversations back then, and I know it of course pre-dated my arrival. I hope in 30 years’ time, the conversations we will be having will be very different.” – Professor Shawn Sobers

Find out more

Read more about the new display at M Shed.

Here are some suggested starting points if you’re interested in finding out more about efforts in Bristol to engage with the history and legacy of the city’s involvement in the transatlantic traffic of enslaved Africans:

Bristol Legacy Foundation, working to create sites of commemoration and a story-house to explore the history and legacies of the transatlantic traffic in enslaved Africans.

Black South West Network, a leading Black-led racial justice organisation working to drive racial equity through a meaningful community led approach.

Colston’s Last Journey, a work of sound art by a Bristol poet, writer and located audio designer Ralph Hoyte.

The Transatlantic Trafficked Enslaved African Corrective Historical (TTEACH) plaques campaign

The Charting African Resilience Generating Opportunities (CARGO) movement.

With thanks to:

Dr Edson Burton MBE, Doctor of Philosophy – History, Church, Race and Social Inclusion, 2005.

Dr Roger Griffith MBE, Diversity ＆ Community Projects, Honorary Doctor of Art, 2022.

Professor Shawn Sobers, Cultural Interdisciplinary Practice, PhD Art Media Design, 2010.

Olumide Osinoiki, BA(Hons) Photography, 2020.

Associate Professor Estella Tincknell, Film and Culture.

^{Main image reference: the above contributors, starting from top left.}

UWE Bristol alumni – quick links

representation matters website

From vision to reality: two Bristol entrepreneurs share their journey

Alumni Team | 6 March 2024

To mark International Women’s Day 2024, we asked two alumni who are driven female business founders, about their unique journeys. They shared the toughest challenges they’ve encountered and what makes them most proud.

Aisha Thomas founded Representation Matters, an international training consultancy championing diversity in education.

Beck Prior founded Priormade, a sustainable homeware brand, and Prior, a shop stocking artist and designer made products, based in Cabot Circus.

Aisha Thomas

Studied LLB(Hons), 2006
Founded Representation Matters in 2020
Mission is to challenge the lack of representation and the inequality in our current education system
Author of no 1 best seller on Amazon about becoming an anti-racist educator
Awarded MBE in 2022

What does it mean to you to be an influential and successful woman in your field?

Success is really subjective, however to me, it means being the representation that is needed for people that look like me. I spent most of my career, forcing myself to be what I can’t see.

I hope that the pathway I have created has opened doors and provided future opportunities for those following behind me.

How did you get started?

My journey started with the motivation I received from my mum. She was a primary school teacher and often talked about the power of education and how it opened doors and created springboards to new opportunities.

I started out in law, convinced I would be a lawyer, however, after a chance meeting with a young man in prison, I re-thought my pathway and transitioned into education. I had a fantastic time as an assistant principal, however, I wanted to have more of an impact, so after a Ted X talk, a book, and a BBC documentary, I started my business Representation Matters Ltd.

What’s been your biggest challenge?

Being an entrepreneur is not easy.

Making the transition from the classroom, to being on the road, drastically changed my lifestyle. But it has been worth it.

What are you most proud of?

The reach of our work! Just last month, I was in London and I met a woman from Venezuela who explained that she had read my book, and this had contributed to the work she has been doing in Venezuela about the lack of diversity in books in her home country. I guess you never know who is watching!

Beck Prior

Studied BA(Hons) Art & Visual Culture, 2008
Founded Priormade, 2011
Opened Prior shop, 2019
Relocated shop to Cabot Circus, 2021
Supports young talent and community art projects

What does it mean to you to be an entrepreneur?

Really proud.

For me, an entrepreneur is a trailblazing, risk-taker. Someone who is driven by an idea they believe in and won’t give up until it’s accomplished.

I feel quite honoured to be called one.

How did you get started?

Like all creative people who seem to marvelously pinball from one thing to another, it’s hard to find the starting point. Funnily enough, having a retail shop combines EVERYTHING.

I’ve always had a very strong work ethic and left UWE Bristol with many ideas for starting my own business. I worked at Arnolfini, Young Bristol, Creative Youth Network, and as an Art Technician/Post 16 tutor, alongside creating props, puppets, signage, and project-managed public art installations for clients. In 2010 this became product design. I also trained as a hairdresser and make-up artist before starting UWE Bristol and worked in many, many pubs whilst I studied.

On reflection, I can see now how all of these social, public-facing, creative, and teaching roles have combined to help me design and create a retail shop, manage a team of people, and thoroughly enjoy customer interactions.

What’s been your biggest challenge?

Trying to hold on to this huge shop. Main shopping centres and high streets have been designed for large global for-profit companies. We are competing and paying the same as giant retailers such as Apple and Ted Baker! So, we have to work above and beyond to hold on to it.

My other challenge is making peace with the fact that I can’t make my own creations as much as I used to as managing a shop is so time-consuming – I’m still working on coming to terms with this.

What are you most proud of?

Ooofftt… I’m proud every day. Seriously! But the biggest, incredible achievement has to be the amount of money that we’ve made for Independent artists, designers, and makers. Since we opened in Cabot Circus, we have paid out £375,000. 70% of our artists/designers are based in Bristol so it’s huge for the local economy too. The pride I have when thinking about this makes me have goosebumps.

What does it mean to be a woman in business?

I feel powerful being a woman in business. Not just that I am one, but that I don’t feel like an imposter, and I know what I’m doing. I often think women in business feel slightly unconfident and like they shouldn’t be here.

I hope that I’m inspiring other women to not just start their own businesses but to grow them into the global retail sector.

Thankfully the independent retail and craft sector is mostly female-founded and led, so I don’t feel that lonely. However, as both a business owner and a woodworker – I do find myself calling out the comments I receive at huge business networking events, timber yards, and with some customers in the shop: ‘But has it been wired properly have you had it checked by an electrician?; Aren’t you a clever girl; Have you checked that figure with your accountant?’ just to name a few.

prior shop website

Thank you to Aisha and Beck for sharing their inspirational journeys with us. If you are an alum and would like to share your story with us, we would love to hear it.

A fond farewell – 35 years of Bristol Cathedral graduations

Alumni Team | 24 January 202429 January 2024

Back in 1988, the first ever graduation ceremony was held at Bristol Cathedral for a small group of surveying graduates (recorded in the Bristol Polytechnic News, March 1988).

The November 2023 graduations marked the final UWE Bristol Award Ceremonies to be held at Bristol Cathedral. So that’s 35 years of ceremonies, celebrations, and proud family photos. And myriads of mortar boards thrown in the air.

If you were one of those to receive your award in the cathedral, we hope you still hold happy memories of that important day, marking your well-earned achievement.

Look back at some highlights with us.

Do you remember the time when….

Two robed men took to skateboards (1988)

Alfred Morris (the then Director of Bristol Polytechnic) posed for an unusual graduation picture.

The Princess Royal was in attendance (1991)

The Polytechnic Director, the Princess Royal and the Chairman of Governors, Honorary Degree Ceremony 1991

Jeremiah Daliel received a standing ovation when he stood up from his wheelchair (2016)

Following a car accident five years previous, Jeremiah was in a wheelchair on the day he graduated with LLB(Hons) Law. He’d been in and out of hospital and was working hard at his rehabilitation. Buoyed by support in the cathedral he surprised everyone when he stood to receive his award. In an article in ‘The UWE Tab’ Jeremiah said,

“The roar of applause grew louder and louder and continued as if it was playing in my body. It was only when my aide alerted me that my whole class had stood up in support that I realised that these were not just classmates but my dear friends.”

Picture of a graduation ceremony with video play button — Watch the moment in a video on Facebook

The whole cathedral froze (2016)

In 2016, we managed to convince a cathedral full of graduates, academics, and family and friends to freeze for a ‘mannequin challenge video’.

Picture of graduates in a Cathedral, with video play button — Mannequin challenge video on Facebook

The marriage proposal (2022)

As if one milestone was not enough, just minutes after Kelly graduated on 22 November 2022, she got engaged to her partner Christian.

Picture f a graduate and partner, with text "Is that a yes" and video play button — Watch the proposal on X

A father and daughter graduate together (2023)

The Chu family are proud to have a total of three UWE Bristol degrees between them. Oliver studied both his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees here. Sadly he couldn’t attend his MA Graphic Arts graduation, but a perfect opportunity presented itself…

When his daughter Lizzie graduated from her Adult Nursing degree course this summer, Oliver seized the chance to join her. Watch the moment they graduated together (clip on TikTok).

Family portrait photo, including two graduates — Father and daughter graduates (with mother/wife and grandmother) outside graduation ceremony.

And finally a favourite from Vice-Chancellor Steve West

Still of a video taken at a Graduation ceremony, with play button — Watch Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for Bristol Peaches Golding’s dance (on X)

“There have been tens of thousands of graduates who have graduated from the Cathedral. Millions of memories, happy families and loved ones joining in celebrating the successes of our graduates. Each one unique, each one special and each one transformational.

I think one of my highlights was awarding the Lord Lieutenant of Bristol Peaches Golding an honorary doctorate and her capping it off with a celebratory dance!

What a moment – tradition, fun and humanity to make a special memory. Thank you to the Cathedral for years of supporting us to make the most spectacular memories.“
Professor Sir Steve West CBE, DL, Vice-Chancellor, President and CEO, UWE Bristol

So, what’s next?

From this year, Bristol Beacon (formerly Colston Hall) will be the home of our graduation ceremonies. UWE Bristol is excited to be partnering with Bristol’s world class music, education, and cultural venue.

Over the years at the cathedral, we found we were unable to provide a truly inclusive ceremony for all our graduates and guests due to the limitations of such a historic building.

The Bristol Beacon has recently reopened following a multi-million-pound refit. The stunning refurbished grade II listed concert hall in Bristol city centre will provide an equitable, accessible, and inclusive experience for all.

Find more information about our partnership with Bristol Beacon on our news pages.

The newly refurbished Beacon Hall, Bristol Beacon

UWE Bristol alumni – quick links

Valda’s collaborative public art practice Jackson and Harris

Bristol artist and alum Valda Jackson receives MBE

Alumni Team | 12 January 202416 January 2024

Congratulations to Fine Art alum Valda Jackson, who received an MBE for services to Art in the New Years Honours List. Valda is a multidisciplinary artist and a published writer. Her practice explores the psychology of migration, identity and loss, and creates work about human existence and survival.

About Valda’s work

In her public art, Valda depicts stories interrogating our past and present through sculpture. In 2017, her collaborative public art practice Jackson and Harris won the PMSA Marsh Award for excellence in public sculpture.

Last year, Valda designed a new commemorative 50p coin to mark 75 years since HMT Empire Windrush arrived in the UK. This year Valda has a Summer exhibition at the Royal West of England Academy.

Girls Pinafore, St John’s Hall Peabody London, 2016 by Valda Jackson (Jackson and Harris)

She has previously shown at The National Portrait Gallery, Royal West of England Academy Bristol and private galleries; and has lectured at the Royal College of Art, UCE Birmingham and presented papers at International Conferences in Universities across Europe.

Valda is currently a resident artist at Spike Island in Bristol – the internationally renowned contemporary art centre.

Summer show at Royal West of England Academy (RWA)

Valda is currently working towards her upcoming solo show at the RWA in Bristol. The exhibition’s main focus is the interest of the child of migration.

“It is about family – specifically children who are separated from parents who leave them behind to work abroad; some will wait years before joining their parents. But some children, for whatever reason, are never sent for, and they grow into adulthood away from parents, separated by more than just seas and continents.”
she explains.

The exhibition opens 25 May – 11 August 2024 at RWA, Bristol.

Valda designs new 50p coin to mark Windrush’s 75th anniversary

The coin pays tribute to the many British Caribbean and Commonwealth citizens who came to the UK between 1948 and 1973.

“My parents were among the generation of people invited to leave their home in the Caribbean to come and work in Britain. I joined them at the age of five.”
Valda explains.

The image on the 50-pence piece depicts two people of the Windrush generation against a backdrop of the Union Jack flag.

“My design is more than a celebration of one moment. It is an acknowledgement of the real, lived experience of generations of ordinary working people. And though we may have struggled, and we still struggle in many ways, we and our descendants are, in fact, at home.

The coin honours our parents and their legacy; and celebrates our presence, achievements, and contributions that continue to enrich our society.”
she says.

Valda at UWE Bristol

Valda studied BA(Hons) Fine Art at Bower Ashton, graduating in 1989 (from the then Bristol Polytechnic). As a student Valda worked at gaining skills that she continues to develop now.

“I had already begun to make images that had at their core our shared histories and experiences”
Valda reflects.

She still maintains a connection to UWE Bristol, hosting students in her Spike Island studio for talks, and mentoring individual students.

More information about Valda:

Valda’s website

Valda at Spike Island

One question changed her life

Alumni Team | 5 July 20235 July 2023

Zita Alves helps people change their lives through exercise and healthy living. That’s what gives her a buzz. But she didn’t always realise that.

Young Zita came from her home in Berkshire to study at UWE Bristol for an HND in Business and Finance with Marketing in 1990.

She featured in our 1995 prospectus, saying then that ‘a good foundation in business is essential for many careers’. So, 28 years later, we caught up to find out if she was right.

Hotshot marketer

Zita graduated and went straight into a marketing role . She was working in print production before the internet became mainstream. Her job was exciting and fast paced, working with clients like Barclaycard and Readers Digest, surrounded by other young and ambitious people.

She was successful, got promoted to Project Manager and was responsible for some big campaigns. Zita recalls this time of her life;

“Although it was very interesting it was also super, super stressful. My lifestyle was unhealthy, and my body was suffering.”

It was around this time Zita recalls doing a personality test, which suggested she was suited to being a teacher, but it wasn’t until later that the pieces of the puzzle came together.

An unexpected calling

Zita continued to train and develop her skills in marketing. But it was after she was made redundant in 1997 that she took stock. Listening to the radio one day a sentence popped out at her – a voice asking, ‘do you want to be a personal trainer?’. And despite Zita having never consider anything remotely similar,

“Something inside me said ‘I just want to do this.’ And so I did!”

She embarked on an intense vocational personal trainer course back in Bristol. The course was very male dominated including many ex-military men with a background in physical training.

“I remember them talking about quadriceps, and I didn’t know what they were!”

In a complete change of career from marketing and project management, Zita found herself relying again on the foundations that she learnt from studies to kick-start her next steps. She set up a personal training business within Forte Hotel group and worked hard to build up her client base.

Finding her purpose

Zita’s business grew and changed over the years. When COVID hit, she lost her personal training clients due to lockdowns, but her other classes went online. Zita realised she was providing a lifeline for people.

“What I was providing was valuable, and I loved having that purpose. I want to teach. That’s the bit I love. That’s where I get my energy, from other people. I bring my energy to people and I get energy back!”

A passion for women’s health

Zita made the decision in 2018 to focus her business entirely on women – she is her target market, and that means she can offer relatability and understanding.

She now runs retreats, working increasingly with meditation and breathing.

Many of her clients are women approaching their 50s and are affected by the menopause. Everything Zita is passionate about – self-care and good mental health through healthy eating, exercise and relaxation – supports women through this time.

And finally, Zita’s advice for current business students….

“You never know where you’re going to end up or how valuable what you’re learning will turn out to be. And it’s just as much about people too, making connections.”

It turns out one of Zita’s lecturers from her student days now comes to one of her stretch classes. So the skills and connections that Zita gained at university really were a good foundation for what followed.

For more about Zita visit zitaalves.com.

UWE Bristol alumni – quick links

Giant inflatable robots descend on Bristol city centre

Alumni Team | 29 June 202330 June 2023

Emma Powell makes robots for poking, squishing, and hugging. She’s Co-Director of Air Giants, a local creative robotics studio, making pioneering and monumental work for an international audience.

We interviewed Emma ahead of the unveiling of Squeeze Me, a group of new interactive inflatable creatures who’ll be wrapped around lampposts on Brandon Hill, Bristol, 4-9 July 2023.

^{Emma Powell, Co-Director at Air Giants}

What was your journey from illustration to inflatable robotics?

It was long and unexpected!

I picked up many design and fabrication skills on my Illustration degree in the wonderfully equipped workshops at UWE. After graduation I did freelance model-making work for film and TV. Working at Puppet Place in Bristol was hugely transformative. It’s a great working hub for puppetry of all sorts.

I spent many years designing and making puppets for theatre all over the world

Mechanisms and animatronics have always been a passion of mine, and it was the combination of these disciplines with design that made me interested in robotics.

I met my colleague Richard at an event on Stokes Croft. We shared an interest in beautiful mechanical things. He had made some experiments with moving inflatable structures.

I fell in love with the scale and the organic motion of them.

I realised that I’d spent many years working on other people’s ideas and that it could be time to work on my own. We started Air Giants, pitching for the first time for funding. Three years later, Air Giants is touring artworks which take that feeling of excitement and emotional impact to others.

Which of your creatures is your personal favourite and why?

There are elements of each piece that I think are exceptional and it’s hard to pick a favourite.

I love the relationships people build with Luma. They can get really attached to her and we get many repeat visitors.

^{Luma, Ashton Court in Bristol, 2021}

Unfurl, is wonderful because it’s a whole garden which is large enough to create a complete interactive environment.

I’m excited about what is coming up in our new project, Squeeze Me. It’s the first time we’ve used touch sensing in a piece of work.

To get it to interact with you, you have to poke, squish or hug it!

Why do you think Bristol is a thriving hub for creative technology?

It has strong traditions of puppetry, animation and robotics as well as a thriving film and TV scene. Its size means that there is a real creative technology community, with lots of companies supporting and championing each other.

Places like the Watershed and the Pervasive Media Studio actively support innovative practitioners and help to develop the city’s strong networks between universities, industries and creative businesses.

UWE Bristol is often involved in the multi-partner teams that support the creative industries.

We’re a new member of Pervasive Media Studio – a creative technologies collaboration between Watershed, UWE Bristol and University of Bristol. UWE was a partner of the South West Creative Technology Network team that funded Air Giants’ earliest experimental work, and is a main delivery partner of the MyWorld program which is supporting a huge range of creative innovation in the region, including our own.

How do Air Giants contribute to accessibility and inclusivity within the Arts?

Our work offers a really low barrier to engagement. It’s about what you can see, hear and touch and how that makes you feel. There’s no language element and you don’t need any previous experience of the arts to enjoy it.

Audiences across the world love our work, from the very young to the elderly.

It draws a lot of primal responses from people which are about playfulness and the feeling of communing with something huge.

^{Luma, Leeds Shopping Centre, 2021}

Do you have a dream project you can tell us about?

We’ve been thinking about how our robots could interact with the human body in a performance context. We’re natural collaborators…

We’d love to work on a large-production with other creatives, from dancers, opera singers, street performers to concert pianists.

I’m also excited to see where our new work, Squeeze Me, tours this year. The work is battery-powered, which means we can install it… anywhere!

More about Squeeze Me and Playable City

Squeeze Me will be installed on Brandon Hill as part of Bristol’s Playable City event. Huge, inflatable and illuminated creatures, will be wrapped around trees, lamp posts or other street furniture, inviting passers-by to hug, squeeze, lean on or poke them. Creatures will respond with shape-change, light and sound and will influence other creatures nearby.

Dates and times as follows:

Tuesday 4 July – Thursday 6 July, 16:00 – 22:00

Friday 7 July – Saturday 8 July, 14:00 – 22:00

Sunday 9 July, 14:00 – 18:00

www.airgiants.co.uk

UWE Bristol alumni – quick links

Find out more on our Showcase webpage.

When you weren’t supposed to reach 30

Alumni Team | 30 May 202330 May 2023

Among the graduates exhibiting this year will be 30-year-old MA Photography student Ciara Hillyer, from Bristol.

Ciara was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF) when she was five days old – a genetic condition which creates a build-up of thick sticky mucus in the lungs, digestive system and other organs, causing a wide range of challenging symptoms affecting the entire body.

Ciara was given a suggested life expectancy, but thanks to advances in healthcare and the development of a new drug called Kaftrio, Ciara has reached a milestone which most people take for granted:

“I am incredibly proud of myself for getting this far. Reaching 30 when you weren’t supposed to reach 30, and you’re actually graduating with a Master’s degree is quite something.”

Photography as an outlet

Ciara started photography as a teenager; it provided a distraction during many visits to Bristol Children’s Hospital. She said:

“My camera came with me everywhere, even on the days when I wasn’t feeling very well because it gave me something to focus on.”

School-life was understandably tough as she missed quite a lot of time in the classroom. But the support she received from her teachers and her friends gave her the confidence to apply for a place to study photography at university.

She graduated from UWE Bristol with a BA(Hons) Photography in 2015 and was accepted onto the MA Photography in 2022.

Hospital as home

Her final project for her master’s degree is titled ‘Breathing Space’ and shines a spotlight on life with CF. Ciara explained:

“We were coming out of COVID and people were very familiar with seeing the inside of the hospital. Whilst that’s what I wanted to photograph, it wouldn’t have had the same impact, so I decided to make it more personal, a bit more poetic and quiet.”

The images are reflective and ‘photograph from feeling’ and record how she felt within the space photographed rather than the space itself. Nothing about it screams CF. It just narrates a beautiful, quiet experience of somebody with a chronic health condition. Ciara added:

“I think there’s a lot of fear around hospitals. But for me, as a long-term patient, even the smell of the corridors makes me feel safe.”

Breathing Space is about finding the peace, allowing myself to breathe and live in the moment.

“I thought it was important to show the calmer side of hospitals, the side that looks after you, that isn’t scary. Because if I’m really poorly, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than the hospital. They’ve looked after me so much in the past and will for the rest of my life. It was really important for me to look at the side I’m grateful for.”

Watch our video of Ciara preparing for Showcase 2023:

Visit Showcase 2023

The exceptional talent of graduating students at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) will be celebrated at the annual Degree Show this June.

Over 1000 undergraduates and postgraduates from the College of Arts, Technology and Environment will display their work through a mix of free physical exhibitions between 8 and 15 June, alongside a digital showcase.

Beaming art into Castle Park this winter

Alumni Team | 31 January 20233 February 2023

An ambitious new artwork designed by Bristol-based creatives PYTCH will be showing at Bristol Light Festival 2023, launching this Friday 3 February. Located at Castle Bridge, Beam will use lasers and haze to create a beautiful, ever-changing light sculpture.

About Beam light installation

Creative Director at PYTCH and UWE Bristol Creative Media Design alum Tom Benoy is leading on the project.

“The aim of the piece is to create a feeling of euphoria. Using lasers on this scale in a public space has allowed us to expand the dimensions of our work and try something new and exciting,”
he explains.

Tom Benoy working in PYTCH studio

Visitors can become fully immersed as they cross the bridge, enveloped in haze whilst looking up at the lasers crossing in the air above. Ambient music forms part of the experience. View it from afar too and enjoy Bristol’s floating harbour illuminated and the impressive lasers meeting and crossing in the air above the bridge.

Beam, PYTCH (artistic impression)

“We were keen to do something to help our fantastic city, and we’re always looking for new creative challenges,”
Tom said.

The festival showcases a collection of local, national and internationally renowned light artists. As well as bolstering Bristol’s creative reputation, this winter event helps the city to have a positive start to the new year.

Ophelia, Studio McGuire

Scream the House Down: Bristol, Marcus Lyall

Trumpet Flowers, Amigo & Amigo

Halo, illumaphonium

More about Bristol Light Festival

Bristol Light Festival is organised by Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District (BID), a not-for-profit organisation working to make Bristol an even better place to live, work, study and spend leisure time.

Head of Bristol City Centre BID, Vicky Lee, said

“We are thrilled to have such a fantastic line up this year. The event embodies everything that Bristol represents and highlights it as the vibrant, playful and creative city that we know and love.”

Brighten up your cold winter evening with a light and colour-filled walk through Bristol Light Festival, on for 10 days from Friday 3 – Sunday 12 February. Across the evenings from 15:00 – 22:00, the 11 installations will shine a light in a few unexpected places as well as illuminating some of Bristol’s most iconic landmarks across the city, creating a free trail through the city’s centre.

For a full list of installations, maps and details visit www.bristollightfestival.org

Bristol Light Festival is presented by Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) supported by Redcliffe & Temple BID and Broadmead BID. The festival is also supported by Cabot Circus, Bristol’s City Centre & High Streets Recovery and Renewal programme, which is funded by Bristol City Council and the West of England’s Combined Authority’s Love our High Streets project, with the aim of supporting the recovery of Bristol’s priority high streets. The festival is curated by creative director Katherine Jewkes.

NOTES:

PYTCH are a creative events production service based in Bristol with a forward-thinking ethos. They have produced over 4000 live events from conferences to awards shows, product launches to exhibitions and one-off experiential events. The company regularly employs UWE Bristol graduates and has close links to our audio technology Audio and Music Technology and Creative Music Technology courses, hosting placements and visits.

UWE Bristol alumni – quick links