Community engagement

Hannah Whittaker is a performance maker and installation artist, creating interactive installations, one on one encounters and digital performances. The form of her work may fluctuate from high-tech digital installations to very basic one to one encounters, but her focus is always on creating an experience for the audience. She concentrates on using interactivity as a means to facilitate dialogues that explore topics around the human condition.

The residency focused on researching the history of the Police Section House at the Historic Dockyard Chatham, the former residential quarters for the Dockyard’s own police force. Hannah was given access to newly uncovered discoveries, artefacts, and archival records, alongside invaluable support from members of the Chatham Dockyard Historical Society. From this material, she was tasked with developing an immersive, interactive experience.

The breadth of available research was both fascinating and challenging. There were many compelling stories and details, and deciding what to foreground, and what to leave out, proved difficult. Rather than attempting to present everything, she chose to focus on the tension between watchers and the watched, turning the gaze back onto the police themselves and placing them under scrutiny and suspicion.

Central to this decision was a desire to use the source material to create an artwork that was genuinely interactive, rather than a factual or didactic museum-style display. To achieve this, she focused on a single defining element of each individual’s story, allowing interaction to reveal personal, often hidden, narratives.

Click here for more information about the project

Temple of Kulture is about giving a voice to the global majority through immersive experiences, cultural & community workshops, and extended reality technology. Their mission is to break down barriers, nurture creativity, and build unity by sharing stories that need to be heard.

They provide access to workshops and training that can be hard to reach, ensuring that underrepresented voices have a platform. Their projects offer virtual and in-person workshops and courses aimed at helping people achieve their Performing and Visual Arts goals, boost well-being, and build stronger, creative communities.
Their work celebrates and preserves various cultures while fostering a sense of belonging. Through hands-on activities, discussions, and collaborative projects, participants learn from one another and develop deeper cultural appreciation. They also prioritise sustainability in their practice, incorporating eco-friendly methods, reducing waste, and running outdoor sessions that connect creativity with nature.
Innovation is at the heart of what they do. They use immersive technology, interactive storytelling, and extended reality to create unique experiences that make theatre and creative expression more accessible. From digital performances to augmented reality projects, they are pushing the boundaries of traditional storytelling.