The Showcase Event was a public showcase that took place at the Sonic Arts Research Centre (SARC), Queen’s University Belfast on the 6th of November 2018. The event presented several immersive works: an installation version of EMBRACE, several VR experiences by members of the SARC_Immerse research group, as well as VR works by invited VR industry partners. The showcase concert included 3D sound designs in the unique Sonic Laboratory and inclusive immersive music technologies.
A final round table discussion, exploring issues on inclusion, disability and emerging technologies was moderated y Professor Michael Alcorn, Founder of the Sonic Arts Research Centre, Belfast with opening presentations by the research team.
Invited Guest Speakers:
- Deepa Mann-Kler
CEO of Neon and Artist
discoverneon.com/
Deepa Mann-Kler is CEO of Neon, Visiting Professor In Immersive Futures at Ulster University and an Artist. Deepa directed and produced her first virtual reality experience “Retne” for HTC Vive which demoed at SxSW17. Her company Neon is using immersive technologies to create software applications for health and wellbeing. Neon has launched BreatheVR, a pain management tool, on the Oculus store. Deepa’s work as an artist has a strong focus on public art with neon installations and she was invited to participate in Lumiere London 2016. Deepa authored the first report into racism in NI “Out Of The Shadows. ” and has thirteen years experience as a Non-Executive Director across the public and private sector.
- Oliver Mantell
Director of Policy Research
The Audience Agency
theaudienceagency.org
Oliver leads on The Audience Agency’s consultancy focused on policy and new application of our audience datasets and on partnerships with universities; working with clients including Arts Council Ireland, Opera North, Culture Liverpool, Leeds 2023 and Arts Council England. He delivers the Arts Marketing module at the University of Leeds and is the agency lead for literature and opera.He has previously worked in a variety of capacities within arts research and consultancy. With degrees in English Language and Literature (Oxford) and Cultural Policy and Management (Sheffield Hallam), he is also a board member for Grimm & Co and Ignite Imaginations.
- Chris Proctor
Inclusive music concert programmer
TownHall & Symphony Hall, Birmingham
thsh.co.uk
Chris Proctor works with the Head of Commercial and Head of Artistic Programming to provide a balanced yet commercially-focussed programme across both venues. Primarily responsible for family programming, rentals and accessible performances with a focus on Town Hall.
- Andrew Stanford
Inclusion Lead Artist
Replay Theatre Company, Belfast
replaytheatreco.org
Andrew is among Ireland’s most experienced performers of theatre for audiences with profound and multiple learning difficulties. He is Inclusion Lead Artist at Replay Theatre Company (a Northern Irish children’s theatre company that creates ground-breaking, multi-sensory inclusive productions for disabled audiences).
- Michelle McCormack
CEO
Drake Music Northern Ireland
drakemusicni.com
Michelle McCormack is the founder and CEO of The Drake Music Project Northern Ireland, a charity that provides access to independent music making for children and adults with complex disabilities. The charity that has been operating for 25 years provides workshops in composition and performance skills through adapted computer interfacing technology, in order that physical and cognitive ability is matched to an appropriate gestural interface, allowing people with disabilities the opportunity to express their creativity in an independent and controllable environment.
Performance Without Barriers 