Meet the RCA at UK House at SXSW

The Royal College of Art will be at UK House at the SXSW Conference from 12–14 March. UK House is outside of the main conference zone, so can be accessed by anyone in Austin, even if they don’t have a festival pass.

Join us at UK House on the morning of 12 March to explore new, meaningful and accessible ways to tell immersive stories in our world today, with a focus on XR, VR and AR; or catch up with us more informally on 11, 13 or 14 March.

12 March, 10am – 12.30pm: Royal College of Art presents the Narrative Ecologies Interactive Event (UK House, side bar)

Explore new, meaningful and accessible ways to tell immersive stories in our world today, and experiment with creative ideas from international artists, researchers and practitioners driven by urgent ethical, environmental and social imperatives.

The uniquely themed showcase features work created using a variety of mediums including VR/AR/XR, screen and mobile applications from students, staff and alumni from the Royal College of Art, produced in collaboration with leading industry partners. Visitors will be able to interact with the works and gain perspectives from leading academics about the future potentials of these technologies.

12 March, 11am – 12noon: The RCA convenes: XR stories (UK House, The Courtyard)

Please join us for a series of short discussions exploring different aspects of the use of XR for telling real stories. This will be a facilitated conversation looking at the development and use of XR for bringing narratives to life, and offering new perspectives on its use. Speakers include:

• Asif Kapadia, Academy and BAFTA Award winning film director, writer and producer, and RCA alumni
• Julio Obscura, Creative Director and RCA alumni
• Rupert Daniels, Director of Services and Skills, Department for Business and Trade
• Jack Hardiker, RCA Tutor and Creative Director at Office of Everyone
• Richard Twyman, Artistic Director at English Touring Theatre
• Professor Camille Baker and Senior Tutor & interactive artist

The event is open to all, but for more information and to guarantee your place book here.

11, 13 & 15 March: 1-2-1 portfolio reviews and application advice

Meet Kerry Curtis, Dean of the School of Communication, who will be hosting free, 15-minute portfolio reviews and can answer your questions about studying at the RCA. Book here.

13–14 March: New Rendezvous Street: an archaeology of the future, online exhibition, UK House

Through the course of UK House’s opening, we invite attendees of SXSW to join us as we build and populate a digital environment that is entirely new, immersive, inventive and inclusive. A digital world will emerge, grow and evolve throughout the course of SXSW, transcending time zones and geographies.

Throughout the festival this online space will mirror, incorporate and develop as a parallel universe to the physical SXSW and RCA as all kinds of people, music, fashion, spoken word, architecture, design, typography, film, places, and things are invited, made, scanned, uploaded and included in our new narrative ecology. Drop in any time from 10am to 5pm to take part!