DUMFRIES High Street is set to be transformed into an interactive audio experience for the public very soon.
High Street Multiverse is an interactive public art project designed specifically for Dumfries town centre by the Stove’s artistic director Martin Joseph O’Neill.
With support from D&G Unlimited, the project places audio stories inspired by the high street in various locations, stretching from the Burns Statue to the Loreburn Centre.
The project, which began in late 2021, saw five emerging writers from the local area work under the mentorship of Dumfries and Galloway based writers Karen Campbell, Des Dillon and Karl Drinkwater.
The emerging writers: Davey Payne, Carolyn Hashimoto, Jasmine McMillan, Kris Haddow and Cameron Philips collaborated over four months to craft five separate imaginative tales inspired by Dumfries.
These stories have now been recorded, designed, and produced, by sound engineer John Dinning, into immersive audio pieces which the public can access on smartphones via QR codes embedded into sculptural works that will be placed in several locations throughout the high street. Martin Joseph O’Neill said: “This is a really inspiring project.
“This project sets about a new way for the community of Dumfries, and those who visit, to interact with our historic high street in a new wat and one that offers a moment of escapism which, for many, will be a welcome distraction from the events of the last two years.”
The High Street Multiverse will launch at the Stove Café on Friday night at 7 pm.
All events are free, and to find out more and sign up to attend visit www.thestove.org/events.
