Royal College of Art and Outernet London Unveil Groundbreaking Partnership

The Royal College of Art (RCA) and Outernet London have announced a major new partnership that is set to revolutionize the world of digital art. RCA students will now have the opportunity to showcase their innovative digital work and immersive experiences on the world’s most advanced interactive platform provided by Outernet.

Outernet London is a newly opened media and culture district located in central London that uses the latest in immersive technology to create new experiences for music, arts, culture, and creators. The partnership between RCA and Outernet London will provide a testbed for creative and digital art, design, and storytelling, public engagement, and innovation. The students of RCA will be able to experiment with Outernet’s digital canvas of screens that will exhibit their work in The Now Building, Pop One, and Pop Two spaces, located next to Tottenham Court Road tube station.

The partnership will launch with the RCA Digital Direction showcase from 22-26 February 2023. This five-day festival of digital artworks and performances will include Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, 360 video, games, and multi-screen installations, demonstrating the power of connecting world-class technology with creative vision. Some of the highlights of the festival include “Follow The Name” by Yujie Wu, a captivating 3D video game, and “Digital Death Masks” by Aiden Shabka, an installation inspired by the death of physical identity.

Dr. Paul Thompson, Vice-Chancellor of the Royal College of Art, said, “The RCA champions interdisciplinary collaboration between the arts and sciences, and we are proud to partner with Outernet Global to harness the power of immersive technologies to amplify the creative work of our students.” Philip O’Ferrall, CEO of Outernet Global, added, “Outernet was conceived with a pioneering mission to innovate in creative storytelling and deeply connect with audiences. Our partnership with the Royal College of Art shares this vision, and the screens and spaces at Outernet were built for this kind of creative endeavor.”

Tom Simmons, Head of Programme, Digital Direction, Royal College of Art, said, “This partnership with Outernet provides a unique opportunity for RCA students to experiment with the scale and immediacy of immersive storytelling. The students will explore what digital storytelling can be and how it can bring people together, connect diverse experiences, confront social and ecological inequalities, and reveal more caring ways for us to live in our world today.”

The Royal College of Art has been ranked the number one institution for art and design in the world by the QS World University Rankings every year since 2015. With its commitment to the creative industries and its global and interdisciplinary approach to digital storytelling, the RCA is poised to continue shaping and changing the artistic and cultural landscape for many years to come. Alumni of the RCA include major figures such as Bridget Riley, David Hockney, Sir Frank Bowling, Tracey Emin, Sir Ridley Scott, and Sir Anthony Finkelstein.

The partnership between the Royal College of Art and Outernet London is a major milestone in the world of digital art, and it promises to showcase the best of student talent and provide an exciting platform for new and innovative experiences. With the use of world-leading immersive technology, this partnership will undoubtedly lead the way in digital storytelling and change the way we experience the arts.