CSV Media and Age UK have joined forces to transform windows at the former Carr Street Co-op Department store in Ipswich into a gallery.
The Windows Project is part of Recreate, which is bringing the town’s creative industries together to boost its economy.
Launching this month, the windows will host artwork, performances, live radio broadcasts and more.
“The aim is to curate these windows in this much loved building, bring much needed life to this part of our town centre and, most importantly, give people free access to creativity and art right on our high street,” said Cad Taylor, creative co-ordinator at CSV and founder of The Windows Project.
One highlight will be next month’s Geminate, a live streaming interactive installation commissioned by CSV Media which links Ipswich with Lens in France using Xbox Kinect technology. Images will be recorded both ends with an augmented image appearing on windows whenever somebody walks by.
“This end of the town is suffering, it needs something,” added Rob Gorringe, manager of the Carr Street Age UK shop.
“This is a big building, we’ve done what we can and with CSV’s artistic flair we’ll be able to improve things further. It’s a great idea, it gives people a reason to come up here and I’m looking forward to their faces as they walk past.”
Another person to have played a key role in the project is Wil Currie of Nexus Globalnet wifi solutions.
“He has committed huge time and support to this project by offering pro bono installation of the high speed internet into the shop windows - running through the air from the UCS site. This has meant we can live stream at a high quality,” added Taylor.
Geminate runs from December 12–18 but CSV is looking for people with ideas for other creative uses of the windows. Email suggestions to cadtaylor@gmail.com
Members of the public are invited to the official project street launch on December 12, 6pm-9pm, at the former Co-op store in Carr Street.
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