Plans to develop a rural life centre in Carloway in Lewis have received a £25,000 boost.
Carloway Community Association is developing a key visitor attraction in the former Carloway School which will offer a unique digital heritage experience using a combination of virtual and augmented reality, projection mapping and hologram technology.
Working with latest technology will offer new ways for visitors to experience history.
This will create a full sensory journey to transport the visitor back in time to experience island life in the past to the present day, and will include a focus on Hebridean education and Gaelic.
The group is currently working with Comann Eachraidh Chàrlabhaigh, Gearannan, and Glasgow Caledonian University as well as a digital company to develop the fully digitised immersive experience.
HIE has awarded a grant towards the project as the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology draws to a close.
Don Mackay from Carloway Community Association said the ambitious proposal aims to “bring the heart back into Carloway, largely lost when the local primary school closed four years ago.
“We have already acquired the school building which is fantastic and we are delighted that funding from HIE allows us to drive forward our digital interpretation project.
“We are progressing well on content creation with our partners, as well as developing the technology and associated hardware.
“We look forward to this project going live in Spring 2018 when it becomes a key visitor attraction for local people and visitors – making the Carloway area a better place to live, work and visit.”
Digital visitor attraction project awarded grant
26 December 2017