Convergent Screen Technologies and Performance in Realtime (CoSTAR) LiveLAB
Project Profile
Project Lead
Professor Gavin Kearney
Professor Helena Daffern
Associated People
Research Theme
Immersive & Interactive Audio
Project Funder
Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
Core Project Partners
Production Park
Screen Yorkshire
Wakefield Council
Vodafone
York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership
Supporting Project Partners
Megaverse
Opera North
Sony Interactive Entertainment
TAIT
Tileyard
XPLOR
Project Description
AudioLab Professors Gavin Kearney and Helena Daffern are leading a team of experts from the University of York in redefining live events with the CoSTAR LiveLAB, a brand new state-of-the-art research and development facility at Production Park in Wakefield.
The Convergent Screen Technologies and Performance in Realtime (CoSTAR) programme provides researchers, companies and institutions across the UK with the infrastructure they need to conduct world-class research and development (R&D) in screen and performance technology.
CoSTAR will support the design, development and creation of state-of-the-art facilities, resources and expertise to underpin the long-term competitiveness of the UK’s screen and performance sectors.
Established with £75.6 million of funding and delivered by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the CoSTAR national network comprises a National Lab, three Network Labs and a Foresight Lab.
The LiveLAB is a core component of CoSTAR, the £75.6m UK R&D network for creative technology, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation. Led by the University of York, CoSTAR LiveLAB brings together a team of experts committed to advancing the creative industries through cutting-edge applied research.
Facilities will include spaces dedicated to developing new technologies for screen, stage and into the metaverse. The lab will leverage novel R&D in virtual production technologies including computer generated imagery (CGI), spatial audio, motion capture and extended reality (XR) to create groundbreaking live performance experiences.
The lab is located at Production Park, Europe’s largest campus of companies dedicated to innovation in live performance. It’s supported by the networking expertise of Vodafone, as well as production support and skills development from Screen Yorkshire. Business development is supported by Wakefield Council and the York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership.