Female artists from Medway are using creative technology to bring untold stories to life, as part of this year’s popular Electric Medway Festival.

Later this month, projection-mapped stories about local people will light up walls at Melville Court in Brompton. Augmented reality tales about history and migration will also pop up at Luton Library.

One of the artists Sophy Millington says:

“I’m creating a piece of work called Revealing Voices, which will take the audience on a visual journey of the people of Brompton and their lives, hidden within the layers of paint on a local wall, waiting to be revealed by an archaeologist of the future. As a female creative, Electric Medway’s Hack programme has been invaluable in enabling me to develop skills along with providing technical support to help me develop this piece.”

Artist Nadia Perrotta says:

“I’m working with Rosemary Chea on our project Luton: A Town In Lieu. We will produce a multimedia zine linked to an augmented reality experience. We aim to shed more light on the migrant residents of Luton, their memories, roots, and history, all while answering the big question of: why should you come to Luton?

I have found Electric Medway Festival's support invaluable in nurturing a space for collaborative exploration and amplifying the voices that often remain unheard in our community.”

Rosemary Chea adds:

“As a young artist, I’m grateful for the opportunity to work collaboratively, allowing me to meet and interact with new people. Especially by developing work using means like AR has opened up a new possibility for my illustration work.”

Local women dominate the line-up of artists in the Festival this year, including Gabi Almeida, Anna Braithwaite, Manisha Dusilla, Kyra Cross, Helen Lindon, Wendy Daws, Jane Pitt, Halle Mills, Kate Mechedou and Xtina Lamb. Technical support is being provided by Livi Wilmore and Hannah Whittaker.

The Festival

Electric Medway Festival is returning on 27-29 October 2023. It offers those excited by new technology and art the opportunity to take part in a VR cinema, street projections, an augmented reality history trail, live electronic music, 3D model scanning and more.

Central to the programme this year are 3 neighbourhoods - Luton, Brompton and Intra - and the creation of new digital stories inspired by the people who live, learn and work in these places. We’re asking: What brings you to these areas?

Festival overview

Thursday 26 October (pre-Festival events)

• Tales from Soda Island VR at Chatham Library, 10am-5pm - Tickets free

• Godzilla screening presented by Rochester Kino at Historic Dockyard, 6.30pm-9pm - Tickets £5

Friday 27 October

• Tales from Soda Island VR at Chatham Library, 10am-5pm - Tickets free

• DARKFIELD audio story masterclass at AE Lab, Historic Dockyard, 10am-5pm - Tickets free

• Digital Takeover Day Intra, variety of digital activities and new works across multiple venues and times including  Sun Pier House and INTRA Arts - 10am-9pm free

Saturday 28 October

• Electric! Exhibition featuring video game arcades at Sun Pier House, 10am-4pm free

• Digital Takeover Day Luton at Luton Library, variety of digital activities and a special AR story by Nadia Perrotta and Rosemary Chea, 11am-3pm free

Sunday 29 October

• Brompton Lightspaces at Second Chance Medway Community Centre, Melville Court, an evening of digital art and light with special projected animations by Sophy Millington and Gabi Almeida, 5pm-7pm free.

The full Festival programme details are at www.electricmedway.org