Imagine stepping into the heart of a vibrant Catalan festival, with towering giants twirling, human towers reaching for the sky, and a whirlwind of colours, sounds and traditions all around you. The scent of firecrackers and fresh pan con tomate linger in the air, and for a moment, you’re not just watching it, you’re part of it! This is exactly the kind of real-world event that our immersive experiences aim to bring to life, whether in schools, colleges, care homes, community groups, workplaces, events or family-friendly settings, we create moments that connect people to global languages and cultures in ways that are interactive, unforgettable and transformative.
Bringing "La Fiesta de Sant Antoni" to Lewes, East Sussex
Last month, we recreated La Fiesta de Sant Antoni at Lewes Depot’s Studio (where the previous year we had set up our inaugural "Un marché de Noël"). Over 120 visitors of all ages - from excited children and curious travellers, to local Spanish speakers and learners in the local community - joined us to experience the magic of this festival through our innovative blend of immersive 360° VR technology and a multimedia, multi-sensory setup.
Highlights included:
A unique immersive 360° VR headset tour: Over 3 hours of footage condensed into just a few exhilarating minutes, transporting visitors directly into the heart of the festival, within touching distance of all the key activities;
Elements for all the senses: Tasting regional foods, hearing the sounds, seeing the sights, smelling the aromas, and learning about the customs, origins and traditions;
Hands-on fun: Putting on sizeable 'gigantes' (gegants) or 'cabezudos' (capgrossos) costumes - the traditional giants and big-heads of the neighbourhood - was a hit, for some adults too, as were the (safe!) bangers and even the mock blessing of animals, a nod to Sant Antoni, the festival's true origins as the patron saint of animals!
One minute, people were adjusting their VR headsets, the next, they were right there in Barcelona, caught up in the energy, music and crazy antics of the celebrations. They re-appeared from headsets beaming, surprised and needing a few moments to adjust back to the reality of where they were before commenting so positively, for example:
"I really felt like I was there",
"I want to learn Spanish now"
"Can I go to Barcelona next year?!"
And that's just what we strive for - not just showing a culture or a destination, but recreating and immersing people in it for them to go on their own journeys.
Why immersive cultural travel experiences matter
Not everyone or many people at all can easily nip to Barcelona in January to experience these traditions first-hand, nor perhaps at any other time of the year. Not everyone speaks the language confidently, knows where to look, or feels like they belong in the middle of a festival in a city they don’t know. That's where we come in. Through our immersive experiences, we bring that world to you, and beyond pure entertainment, we offer escapism, connection, and even wellbeing benefits - whether for an hour or just a few minutes.
Who can benefit?
Schools are a natural fit for our immersive experiences - supporting language learning, cultural appreciation, oracy development and offering a flavour of real-world school trips, especially for the years these don't run and for students who may not go on them, ensuring that all students can come away with new ideas, memories and motivation, long after the lesson ends. However, they are only part of the vision. Here are some ways in which our immersive experiences can cater to a broader audience:
in care settings, to connect residents with the wider world, unlock nostalgic memories and stimulate the mind and senses;
for community groups, to bring people together, make connections and inspire new ways of seeing the world and new places to visit;
for businesses and workplaces, to offer team workshops and sessions that spark creativity, introduce global perspectives and develop intercultural awareness;
for events and festivals, whether hosting a cultural day or themed celebration, our immersive setups are crowd-pleasers that make memories;
for language groups, to provide authentic context to bring language learning to life.
Whether you're in education, business, leisure, a community or private setting, we’d love to bring our immersive experiences to you! Just drop us a line to find out more!
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