Digital Buskers

The goal of this project was to reinvigorate the outdoor public space of Aotea Square. Within the square sits the Auckland Live Digital Stage, a large video billboard dedicated to highlighting the performing arts from the surrounding city venues. The specific challenge was to utilise this Digital Stage to engage passersby with local artists. As a secondary goal, Auckland Live was interested in developing a creative experience that could travel to other public spaces with similar needs and challenges, so the solution was also required to be portable, sustain all weather conditions and handle rough treatment.

The solution was to treat the screen as a window into a virtual stage which redefined itself with each performance. DOTDOT tested multiple mechanisms for interacting with the content and settled on a crank which when turned opens the curtain on the stage to reveal a performance. Between acts a curtain on the digital screen was illuminated with a physical crank and a call to action. A QR code on the plinth directed engaged bystanders to a webpage showcasing who was currently playing and let bystanders send emojis and tips to the big screen.

Digital Buskers premiered in May 2023 as part of New Zealand Music Month, featuring eight local artists and 20 unique performances. It was live in the square for three weeks and helped reestablish Aotea Square as the cultural heart of Auckland City. The success of the project was widely acknowledged within the client organisation and an offer for a second commission quickly followed to extend the project. It is currently under licence for the next 5 years and the client organisation is actively seeking co-production partners in other cities to extend its reach.