Stirling’s Street Stories Prove a Hit with City Shoppers

Stirling’s Street Stories project – which has brought empty shop windows to life with vibrant animated artworks – is proving popular with the city’s shoppers and visitors.

Hundreds of people have downloaded the Street Stories app to view interactive artworks via Augmented Reality (AR) since the initiative was launched by Go Forth Stirling Business Improvement District (BID). And now Street Stories has added Stirling’s McQueen Gin Emporium, which uses augmented reality labels to bring its gin bottles to life, to the Trail.

The Port Street shop features on the Street Stories map thanks to its innovative app which allows users to view a unique animation showcasing the secrets of each of McQueen’s `World’s Coolest Label’ gins.

Go Forth Stirling Project Director Danielle McRorie-Smith said: “I’m thrilled to see people stopping to use the Street Stories App and experience how the different artworks can be brought to life. I’m also delighted to work with BID member McQueen Gin Emporium, who were keen to be part of the project, and help signpost their immersive and innovative AR experience to shoppers and gin lovers.”

“Street Stories is all about making the city centre more visually appealing, highlighting points of interest and showing just how much Stirling has to offer residents and visitors.”

Street Stories features a range of animated artworks on eight vacant shop windows in an initiative aimed at revitalising the city. It showcases the work of a variety of Scottish artists, including Jacqueline Marr and David Galletly, and each artwork is brought to life via interactive AR.

The artworks feature on empty shop windows in Port Street, Murray Place, Stirling Arcade, Upper Craigs and the Thistles and form a Trail telling the stories of Stirling’s people, heritage and history via mediums such as mosaic, dance, mural, digital and fluid art.

Since launching in mid-April, there have been more than 2,500 views of the artworks with the River Forth paintings, by fluid artist Roisin Mackenzie, on the former BHS building in Murray Place proving most popular with 495 views.

The two Port Street artworks have also been a highlight with 354 views for contemporary artist Jacqueline Scorgie’s Archaeology piece and 408 views of Michael Corr’s striking mural of poet Robert Burns.

Meanwhile, McQueen Gin Finance Director Carrie McQueen is pleased to see the firm’s Emporium join the Street Stories Trail. She said: “When I saw the Street Stories animations, I thought this was a great project and realised that, with two of the artworks across from us in Port Street, we are right in the middle of the Trail.

Since we use AR on our gin bottles, I thought it would be great if we could collaborate together and I’m pleased we’re able to do that. Street Stories is a great way to encourage people to get out into the city again and the better footfall we have around Stirling, the better it is for all our businesses.

Our AR gin bottles are displayed in the shop window so people can download the McQueen Gin App and view the animation from there – or pop into the shop and we’ll give them a demonstration.”

The McQueen Gin Emporium has been added to the Street Stories website here – www.goforthstirling.co.uk/street-stories

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