XR21
Immersive Arts
About XR21
XR21 is an international collective of immersive artists who are exploring the possibilities of art and sound to ‘create’, ‘inform’ and ‘perform’. Our aim is to explore and utilize the creative potential of VR, AR, MR and XR for exhibition, performance, education and business.
Our main objectives are to:
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Create: conceive artistic work, production and performance
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Connect: global networking
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Learn: increase competences and professional development
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Explore: research and collaboration
Our first symposium was in collaboration with Real Ideas, a community-based resource and ‘social empowerment engine’ for local people. It included a team of international speakers and practitioners who introduced virtual reality and the immersive arts. The symposium included workshops, an exhibition and the world premiere of a new concept piece called The Art of Dreaming, which has been especially designed for the inauguration of one of the largest and cutting-edge immersive Domes in Europe.
A Visionary Journey in Immersive Art and Technology
In 2021, XR21 focused on developing immersive, interdisciplinary projects that bring together sound, music, dance, visual art and digital media. What began as an experimental collaboration has since grown into a small but active collective, working across education, community, and the arts.
The group’s first public project was the Immersive Arts Symposium, held at the Market Hall Dome in Plymouth in September 2021. Organised in partnership with Real Ideas, Plymouth University, and Falmouth University, the event introduced XR21’s creative approach to immersive media and artistic research. Featuring contributions from international artists and students, the symposium explored the potential of immersive arts within one of the UK’s largest dome projection venues.
Since then, XR21 has gone on to produce a range of projects, including:
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A Dolby Atmos immersive soundtrack created at Real World Studios, exploring the history and legacy of Dartington Hall—a place known for its contributions to education, the arts, and progressive thinking
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A multi-media installation for the Devonport Bicentenary (2025), developed with sound designer Tom Edwards and students from City College Plymouth, exhibited at the Dazzle Festival of Light
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A photographic and audio exhibition in collaboration with photographer Paul Hornsby, combining infrared landscapes with original sound poems accessed via QR codes, designed to offer a quiet, contemplative experience
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Ongoing experiments in immersive dance and performance, using motion-responsive environments and sound to explore new formats for live and digital storytelling
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A contribution to Dartington’s Centenary celebrations in 2025, with an immersive installation combining music, archive materials, and film to reflect on the cultural history of the estate.
In 2025, XR21 continues to develop new work. A current project, The Boy Who Climbed the Stars, is an immersive dance piece that integrates choreography, live sound, and real-time environmental data to explore the human impact of climate change in a poetic and accessible way.
Over four years, XR21 has evolved from a one-off collaboration into an ongoing creative practice. Its goal remains to use immersive media as a tool for meaningful storytelling—and to create opportunities for artists and audiences to engage with contemporary issues through shared, sensory experiences.
Creative Practice
XR21 unites sound, image, movement, and technology to create immersive, multi-sensory journeys. Our collective of musicians, filmmakers, visual artists, educators, and technologists explores new ways of telling stories and sparking imagination. Guided by the principles of Create, Connect, Learn, and Explore, we are working with partners including Friends of the Dart to shape inclusive experiences that inspire communities of all abilities. Charlotte Eaton’s work with the dance company Far Flung brings an additional expertise in the field of contemporary dance and disability.
Every project grows skills, shares knowledge, and empowers participants—from students and emerging artists to local communities. Our journey includes our Symposium on Immersive Arts (Plymouth, 2021), the Devonport Bicentenary (Dazzle Festival, 2025), and Dartington Hall Centenary (2025). Our current work, The Boy Who Climbed the Stars, addresses climate change through the immersive arts. We aim to encourage people to learn, share, and explore its impact, mobilising them to take positive action to reverse its effects.