With the end of summer approaching, it feels like a fitting time to reflect on the success of the Bognor Regis Time Portal so far and its impact on the town and beyond. Launched by Xray Portals in Easter 2024, the Time Portal demonstrates how augmented reality art, heritage, and technology can combine to revive local history and create meaningful social and educational experiences.
Using augmented reality, visitors to Bognor Regis can encounter a three-dimensional holographic representation of Mary Wheatland on the very beach where she once worked, alongside digital twins of her bathing machines, recreated from laser scans of original examples housed in local museums. A local celebrity in the late 19th century, Mary was a remarkable Victorian woman who managed her own bathing machine business and saved over thirty lives from the sea, earning multiple medals for her bravery.
Social Impact: Connecting Communities to Their Heritage
Since its launch, the Time Portal has attracted well over 17,000 visitors, with up to 50,000 expected by September 2024. Visitors from across the country have been drawn to experience this immersive narrative, boosting footfall and benefitting local businesses. The project has reshaped perceptions of Bognor Regis, positioning it as a town that honours its rich history while embracing innovation and new ideas.
The social impact has been clear, as the project encourages people to connect with their heritage in a way that is both interactive and engaging.
Educational Value: A Broader Approach to Learning
The educational value of the Bognor Regis Time Portal is an important part of its success. By offering an immersive way to engage with history, the project inspires curiosity and helps people connect with the past in a more personal way. Through this project, visitors of all ages can gain a deeper understanding of historical figures in their authentic settings, enriching their knowledge in ways that go beyond traditional approaches to learning.
The Time Portal offers a flexible and dynamic learning experience that appeals to both adults and children, making history accessible and relevant in a contemporary context.
Keeping the Experience Fresh: Adapting to Contemporary Themes
One of the reasons for the Time Portal’s continued success is its regularly updated content, designed to keep the experience fresh and encourage repeat visits. During the creation of the volumetric video, multiple segments were recorded to align with key dates such as International Women’s Day, water safety awareness campaigns, and public holidays. This ensures the experience evolves over time, offering visitors new perspectives on Mary’s life and keeping the project relevant.
Collaborative Effort: Local and International Support
The Bognor Regis Time Portal wouldn’t have been possible without support from a wide range of partners. The project was made possible by a grant from Arts Council England, with additional help from Arun District Council, and the Bognor Regis Business Improvement District in securing money from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. We also collaborated with the University of Portsmouth and MAVRiC Research on the technology, alongside several local charities.
The project has also gained widespread media attention, including features on BBC TV, radio, and online platforms, and received international recognition, reaching the finals in the Auggie Awards for Best Art or Film.
Looking to the Future: Expanding Social and Educational Impact
The Time Portal will continue running until September 2025, but Xray Portals is already in discussions with a number of new sites, exploring opportunities to bring this concept to new locations. Our mission remains to blend art and technology to create immersive experiences that revitalise public spaces, foster community pride, and offer engaging, meaningful ways to connect with history in the places where it happened.
Although heritage sites and cultural institutions are a primary focus, this concept also holds significant potential for educational initiatives. By enabling people of all ages to engage with history through immersive experiences, projects like the Time Portal can serve as powerful tools for social impact and cultural engagement.
Furthermore, this concept holds great potential for brands and experiential marketing campaigns, offering innovative ways to engage audiences through immersive storytelling.
If this concept resonates with you, or if you know of locations where a similar project could thrive, we would welcome your thoughts. Feel free to suggest potential locations or tag individuals from heritage sites, cultural institutions, or brands who may be interested in exploring these opportunities.
Thanks again to all of the partners and supporters who have contributed to the project’s success.
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