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ARray – VR digital costume tool
In March 2023, Guildhall School secured a significant capital grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). The funding enabled Guildhall Production Studio to work with partners to develop an interactive digital costume library, transforming the way costume designers in theatre and the performing arts operate. The ARray project was made possible by the AHRC's Creative Capabilities and Research Fund (CResCa). Through this grant, Guildhall School of Music & Drama was able to procure a cutting-edge volumetric capture system, created with Holosys by 4DViews, (www.4DViews.com). Now housed at Target3D – a world leader in virtual production, VR and AR – among other things.
We collaborated with world-leading, London-based costume house, Angels, to create a one-of-a-kind interactive digital library featuring priceless historic costumes. ARray incorporated a variety of academic and creative talent including the Vice-Principal and Director of Production Arts at Guildhall, Professor Andy Lavender, as well as costume design by Guildhall lecturer Vanessa Lingham. A key aim of the project was to provide Guildhall students (and external creatives) with access to state-of-the-art equipment, which is normally only available to those working in the gaming or film-making industries. ARray was recently highlighted on the National Centre for Academic and Cultural Exchange, in a feature written by GPS Creative Director Dan Shorten and Digital Performance and Production Postdoctoral Researcher, Dr Leslie Deere. ARray is at the forefront of combining traditional stage craft with digital technologies, whilst maintaining the integrity of costumiers and the ways in which they work. Through current research and development with this technology, GPS is revolutionising the production of theatre arts.
