The Bognor Regis Time Portal Recognised on World Stage
The hugely successful public art installation using augmented reality that was unveiled at Easter has reached the finals of a prestigious international industry award following a public vote.
The annual Auggie Awards have been the most recognised AR (augmented reality) & VR (virtual reality) industry awards in the world since 2010. Now in their 15th year, the Auggies continue to showcase the best of the best. The time portal, which celebrates the ‘Bathing Woman of Bognor’ Mary Wheatland, is nominated in the ‘Best Art or Film’ category, and the winner will now be decided by industry experts.
Taking place on the 19th of June 2024 in Long Beach, California, the award ceremony will be attended by the portal’s creator, artist Matt Reed.
Matt Reed said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to have made it to the final, and to be able to attend the event in person. The news came just as we were celebrating the portal’s ten thousandth visitor, so this really is the icing on the cake!”
The project was made possible thanks to funding from Arts Council England and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, facilitated by Arun District Council.
Matt added: “I’ve been overwhelmed by the positive feedback that I have received from visitors to the portal. I was also delighted by the reception we had when we visited a local primary school, as part of our education and outreach commitment.
The Oscars of the augmented reality world, the Auggies, are attended by the major players in this creative technology and are part of the AWE (Augmented World Expo), a three-day event showcasing and exploring the latest technology with esteemed international speakers.