ARME featured in University of Birmingham 125th anniversary lightshow

ARME was featured in the University of Birmingham’s 125th anniversary projection-mapping film, shown on the Aston Webb Building during Christmas on Campus on 3 December 2025.

The University reported that around 10,000 people came to campus for the celebration, with animated graphics projected onto Aston Webb to tell the story of Birmingham research, education, and civic achievement across the last 125 years. The Conferences and Events team described the lightshow as a collaboration with Holosphere and PSP, using large-scale projection mapping, sound, and lighting to turn the building into the screen for the anniversary finale.

ARME appears in the film as an example of Birmingham research connecting tradition and innovation in music. The narration describes how motion capture can record performers' gestures and transform them into digital performance, allowing students to practise alongside virtual orchestras and prepare for large-scale performance. That is closely aligned with ARME’s core aim: understanding ensemble synchronisation so that believable virtual musicians can play together with the user.

The projection-mapping film was directed, edited, and created by Matthew Clugston with Holosphere. Production credits also include Ed Lawes as producer and reality capture specialist; Tre Seabourne and Kat Loraas for 3D modelling and animation; Tom Phillips for previs; David Birnie for music; PSP and UoB for projection and sound; and UoB’s Creative Media team for video footage.

Watch the ARME section on YouTube, or view Matthew Clugston’s Vimeo upload of the projection-mapping film.

More context is available from the University of Birmingham Conferences and Events report, the University’s event report, and the ARME project overview.