Immersive art installations are emerging as a powerful tool to make visual arts more accessible and engaging for young people, breaking down traditional barriers linked to language, background, and social class. This innovative approach is championed by George the Poet, the award-winning podcaster and spoken-word artist, who has collaborated with young participants from the Mayor of London’s violence reduction unit to reinterpret classic artworks.

The project, titled Art of Expression, is hosted at Frameless, London’s largest immersive art space. It features iconic pieces such as The Scream by Edvard Munch, Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee by Rembrandt, The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hokusai, and The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch, all projected across the walls, ceilings, and floors of the venue. Alongside these projections, spoken-word performances developed in workshops with the young participants provide a contemporary emotional response to the artworks, creating a multi-sensory experience that invites deeper engagement.

George the Poet highlights that immersive art removes usual entry barriers: “You don’t need a language for this. It’s accessible in many ways… Sometimes it gets exhausting reading all of the texts of all the artworks that you find interesting. But in an immersive setting, you literally come and sit in some art.” He believes such experiences extend horizons for young people who may feel confined by their environments, offering fresh perspectives and mental health benefits through creative expression.

Supporting this initiative is research conducted as part of the project, surveying 2,000 young people about their relationship with art. Nearly two-thirds expressed a desire for greater access to art, while a quarter found traditional galleries intimidating. Alarmingly, 40% were unsure how to pursue a career in the arts, citing a lack of guidance and awareness. Young people like Tafari Clarke from the violence reduction unit’s Young People’s Action Group echoed this sentiment, noting that artistic careers are not often glamorised compared to professions like law or sports, contributing to art feeling “outside the box” for many.

This concern about accessibility is backed by longstanding evidence of class disparities within the creative industries. Research demonstrates that arts careers remain dominated by those from affluent, upper middle-class backgrounds, with the proportion of working-class professionals shrinking dramatically over recent decades. For instance, fewer than one in ten UK arts workers today come from working-class roots, and creative leadership remains largely skewed towards privately educated individuals. These inequalities underscore the importance of projects like Art of Expression, which seek to democratise art and arts engagement.

Frameless itself exemplifies the potential of immersive art. The venue offers a wide-ranging sensory journey through art history, featuring artworks not only included in this project but also masterpieces by Kandinsky, Monet, Dali, Van Gogh, and Klimt, all designed to be accessible to audiences of all ages and abilities. Free summer workshops for young people aged 10-14, led by spoken-word artists, complement the exhibition and help foster new creative skills alongside appreciation for visual art.

George the Poet emphasises the dual benefit of improving access: it supports young people’s mental health and confidence while ensuring that cultural institutions evolve with and remain relevant to future generations. “If our young people don’t feel like they are custodians of these arts and these institutions, then it seems to me we would be moving backwards,” he said.

In a city with an abundant and varied art scene, from textile art at Spazio Leone to photographic showcases at Somerset House and immersive works at Tate Modern, this focus on inclusion and accessibility through immersive art could mark a significant step toward widening participation in the arts and shaping a more diverse cultural future.

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Source: Noah Wire Services