The Jubilee Library in Brighton this week saw the launch event of The AR:Tz Trail, a series of newly commissioned pieces of street art across Brighton and Hove.

Located at some of the city’s leading cultural sites, the artists behind them say the artworks are stunning creations in their own right.  The illustrations have been implanted with a special electronic tag meaning they become 3D virtual objects when viewed through a Smartphone application. 

The creators believe Brighton and Hove is the perfect testing ground for the product before it is spread to other cities.  Nick Dunn, managing director of Brighton-based Boing Splash Media, said, ‘We are trying to make Brighton the augmented capital of the world.  Once the model works in Brighton there is no reason why the AR:Tz trail could not be rolled out across Europe through the EuroCities scheme.’  Locations on the trail include Brighton Station, Pavilion Gardens, Brighton Town Hall and the Clock Tower.

Geoffrey Bowden, Brighton and Hove City Council’s culture cabinet member, said, ‘It is appropriate that this city, which has been identified as the UK’s digital media hub, should be adding a world’s first notch on its belt with this digital art trail.  I’m delighted the artwork is coming to Brighton and Hove and pleased that the app that makes this all possible is home grown too.’

The mobile phone application will be available to download on iTunes and pictures can be uploaded to www.artztrail.com.