A NEW project is set to transform the way local heritage is experienced, blending intergenerational storytelling with the latest in Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technology.
The public launch of the Bringing Life to Historical Heritage initiative, a PEACE PLUS funded programme, took place recently at The Somme Centre, Newtownards, drawing together community representatives, technology specialists and local participants eager to explore how the past can be reimagined for the digital age.
The event was officially opened by the Mayor of Ards and North Down, Gillian McCollum, who welcomed the innovative approach to preserving and sharing local heritage.
Guests were also given the opportunity to experience hands-on demonstrations of AR and VR equipment, offering a glimpse into how immersive technology can add new depth to historical interpretation.
Organisers say the project will bring together two generations, young people aged 16–25 and adults aged 55 and over, to co-create digital content inspired by key local heritage sites, including the North Down Coastal Path and Whitespots Country Park.
Crucially, no previous experience in heritage work or digital technology is required. Instead, the project focuses on storytelling, collaboration and creativity, encouraging participants to share memories, family stories and personal connections to these well-known landscapes.
Those stories will then be transformed by younger participants into immersive digital experiences using AR, VR and drone technology, supported by specialist facilitators. The aim is to build both a permanent and travelling exhibition showcasing the sites through the lens of lived experience and modern innovation.
Project organisers highlight a wide range of themes expected to emerge, from geology and ecology to industrial heritage, wartime history and everyday recreational use of the sites across generations.
For younger participants, the initiative also offers practical training in digital production, creative media and emerging technologies, skills that can be used to build portfolios and enhance future career opportunities.
Older participants will play a central role in shaping the content, sharing memories and helping to ensure that local history is captured in an authentic and meaningful way.
A recruitment drive is now underway for both age groups, with organisers encouraging anyone with an interest in local heritage, storytelling or digital creativity to get involved.
The project is being delivered by PEACE PLUS Programme partners in Ards and North Down.
For more information or to register interest, visit nervecentre.org.
