The Peace Garden
Previously called The Virtual Sculpture Garden
Originally commissioned for Index Festival as part of Yorkshire Sculpture International 2019, The Peace Garden is a collaborative immersive artwork created by One to One Development Trust
Developed through workshops with Syrian women seeking asylum, people with sight loss (Wakefield District Sight Aid), and marginalised young people (Airedale Library) Wakefield, UK, the project explored how virtual reality could become a collective safe space for creativity, reflection and connection.
Using Tilt Brush and accessible VR technologies, participants were introduced to immersive digital art through the creation of virtual sculptures and imaginative shared environments. Each group brought different lived experiences, a wealth of knowledge and challenges to the process, including trauma, social isolation and sight impairment, helping shape a magical digital landscape centred on care, curiosity and collective expression.
Originally launched at Wakefield Cathedral as part of Artwalk Wakefield, The Peace Garden emerged as an early example of socially engaged immersive practice, combining community collaboration, virtual world-building and accessible XR creativity at a time when these conversations were only beginning to emerge within digital arts culture.
In 2026, the project is being revisited as a precursor to contemporary XR practice, demonstrating how collaborative immersive environments can create meaningful, restorative and inclusive digital spaces beyond spectacle-driven technology.
Directed by Judi Alston
Lead Developer Andy Campbell
The project continues to resonate as an example of how immersive technologies can support participation, wellbeing and shared creative experience for audiences often excluded from digital innovation.
Explore the Garden
Gallery
A photographic journey through the creation of The Peace Garden documenting collaborative workshops, virtual sculpture-making and the immersive landscapes shaped through co-production.
