BRADFORD has been chosen to be part of a 3D augmented and virtual reality time-travelling storytelling experience celebrating the history of the district.

StoryTrails, is part of UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, a ground-breaking national celebration of creativity in 2022.

StoryTrails will bring untold stories from the past to life through the magic of the 3D internet using augmented and virtual reality to animate public spaces across the UK creating a free, entertaining and playful family-friendly experience.

It will visit just 15 locations across the UK, including Bradford in July 2022.

Bradford Council’s Libraries Service will be taking part in the project, which will see audiences travel back in time via the wonder of these new technologies to experience untold local histories where they actually happened.

StoryTrails needs people from the Bradford area to tell their stories, so they are recruiting creative talent to run the project.

Creative professionals interested in working with new technology such as 3D modelling software, games engines, augmented and virtual reality are encouraged to apply now. Full training will be provided alongside access to state of the art equipment, production support and production credits for the work.

Once the StoryTrails creatives have sourced and developed the stories, audiences will be guided through an immersive tour of Bradford as they explore these stories across virtual and augmented reality similar to Pokemon Go and via a series of installations.

People will be able to experience history where it actually happened by entering the virtual story portal guided by a free mobile app, using a mix of stunning AR experiences that remix archive films.

Participants will also be immersed in a virtual map of their area, made up of 3D models, and audio stories captured on location, encouraging the audience to connect and experience their area in unimaginable ways.

StoryTrails is led by StoryFutures Academy and delivered in partnership with the British Film Institute, broadcaster and film-maker, David Olusoga. It will use cutting edge technology from Niantic, makers of Pokemon Go.

Professor David Olusoga, Executive Producer for StoryTrails, said: “By enabling 50 diverse creative voices to create compelling stories that combine past, present and future through the magic of immersive technologies, we’ll be mapping a new path for creativity in this country. StoryTrails will set the public’s imagination alight with experiences that use the poetry of history to inspire a new vision of our future.”

Professor James Bennett, Director of StoryFutures and StoryTrails, said: “StoryTrails is a massively ambitious project as we travel across the UK to discover unknown, surprising and intriguing stories from local communities. We’re excited to bring these hidden histories to life.”

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “I’m delighted Bradford has been chosen to take part in this project. It’s a fantastic opportunity for our libraries to be at the centre of new innovations in technology in telling stories from the communities which they serve.”

For further details and how to apply visit story-trails.com