Shifting Borders
In May 2023, The Highrise Project collaborated with refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants to respond to the Treasures of The Brotherton Gallery exhibition ‘Shifting Borders,’ curated by Chris Taylor. The exhibition explored themes of mapping, journeys, and migration through the mediums of art, literature, and cartography.
The works on display ranged from historical travel guides to contemporary pieces that address issues of place and memory. Over six weeks, The Highrise Project ran a series of workshops with a core group of participants as part of Leeds University Library Galleries’ ‘Welcoming Refugees’ programme. The sessions incorporated art and technology approaches to ESOL to promote inclusion and accessibility.
Inspired by the concept that ‘no one is an island’, participants contributed their personal stories and memories through art, producing a collective map that transcends individual narratives.
Using digital drawing and augmented reality, participants also created a series of icons in response to their own experiences.
This interactive artwork enabled individuals to express their challenges, triumphs, and emotional landscapes, providing a powerful glimpse into their lived realities.
Participants from countries including El Salvador, Cuba, Libya, Iran, Morocco, Zimbabwe, Mainland China, and Hong Kong, who have made the UK their home, came together to create a project that focused on the story of their day to day lived experiences and not just on their experiences of migration and displacement.
Visitors to the project could explore the augmented reality (AR) experiences, simply by scanning the QR codes next to each participant’s text and locating the corresponding icon on the map to see their work come to life.
Light Night 2023
AR Workshops
Workshops funded by 100% Digital Leeds supported participants in exploring the power of digital storytelling, using iPads and Procreate to develop their drawing skills. These drawings were then transformed into interactive digital assets and layered into the real world using Adobe Aero.
The Workshops supported participants in creating their own (AR) experiences, culminating in an immersive Augmented Reality Exhibition along Armley Town Street. Passersby can use mobile devices to discover hidden gallery animations, illustrations, and digital artworks rooted in local identity, personal stories, and creative exploration.
From learning to layer digital drawings to placing them into 3D space, the sessions gave community members the tools and confidence to tell their own stories using future-facing creative tech.
These workshops are part of our ongoing mission to make digital creativity accessible, joyful, and relevant to the lives of local residents. Huge thanks to 100% Digital Leeds, Leeds Community Foundation and Leeds Digital Ball CIC for helping make this possible!
Armley Festival
As part of Armley Festival 2024, The Highrise Projects Lead Artist, Victoria Kortekaas, created three Augmented Reality (AR) experiences that visitors could explore using their phones. The digital artworks were strategically placed at key points along the festival route, offering a new way to experience local creativity. The project included work made by participants from our AR digital workshops.
In the workshops, residents learned how to create digital drawings and turn them into interactive AR content using Adobe Aero. Some of this work was featured in the final AR trail at the festival.
By scanning a QR code, festival-goers could unlock animations and illustrations that added a digital layer to familiar Armley streets—connecting art, technology, and community in a fun and accessible way.
