Nottingham Trent University’s New Digital Arts Building to Officially Open

The official inauguration of a new design and digital arts facility at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) is scheduled for later today. This structure incorporates a glazed ground-floor entry and a virtual production film suite, which NTU stated utilizes technology identical to that employed in the creation of Disney’s Star Wars spin-off, The Mandalorian. Simon Starling, an alumnus of NTU and a recipient of the Turner Prize, is slated to inaugurate the building at the city campus on Wednesday. According to Prof Edward Peck, the university’s vice-chancellor and president, the new facility “will enable NTU to expand its contribution to rapidly growing creative industries”. He further stated that it would “allow the Nottingham School of Art & Design, and the city as a whole, to become the most innovative hotbed for digital art and design talent in the UK”. The university indicated that the new space is expected to enhance its capabilities in areas such as filmmaking, animation, user experience (UX) design, gaming, graphic design, and illustration, alongside established design practices. Students first began using the building in September. To commemorate the building’s inauguration, a series of academic events are scheduled, encompassing discussion panels featuring guest speakers, student showcases, and a research and knowledge exchange event. Concurrently, two digital artworks have been commissioned for display within the building and for projection onto its exterior glass facade facing Shakespeare Street, remaining visible until 15 November. Michael Marsden, the executive dean of the Nottingham School of Art & Design, commented: “Our new artistic commissions go to the very heart of our aims and ambitions for the D&DA building – to give artists the space to consider, create, and collaborate in a digitally immersive and live environment.”