Looking for a culture fix this summer? Two of the world’s biggest immersive art experiences are about to take over Nottingham — and if ticket sales are anything to go by, you’ll want to book sooner rather than later.
Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience and Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience arrive at Motorpoint Arena Nottingham from 18 July to 9 August, with organisers extending the run after strong demand.
Tickets start from £14, with family packages and timed-entry options available.
Together, the two experiences have already attracted more than seven million visitors worldwide, transforming the works of two of history’s most celebrated artists into enormous walk-through digital spectacles.
Step inside Monet’s world
The standout for Impressionist fans is Beyond Monet, currently the only immersive exhibition of its kind dedicated to Claude Monet in the UK.
Marking the centenary of the artist’s death, the show uses high-definition projection technology to animate more than 400 works, surrounding visitors with sweeping landscapes, water gardens and iconic scenes from Monet’s extraordinary career.
Expect famous masterpieces including Water Lilies, Poppies and Impression: Sunrise to spill across walls and floors in the show’s vast Infinity Room, creating the sensation of stepping directly into the paintings.
Accompanied by an original score, it’s a thoughtful and often surprisingly emotional way to experience some of the most recognisable artworks ever created.
Van Gogh gets the immersive treatment
Meanwhile, Beyond Van Gogh brings the Dutch master’s most famous works vividly to life through a combination of projection, movement and music.
More than 300 paintings feature in the experience, including The Starry Night, Sunflowers and Terrace of a Café at Night, allowing visitors to wander through the colours, brushstrokes and stories that defined one of art history’s most influential figures.
Rather than a traditional gallery visit, the experience places audiences at the centre of the artwork, with images flowing around the room in a constantly changing visual display.
Both experiences conclude in a dedicated reflection space designed to encourage visitors to slow down and absorb what they’ve seen.
There will also be a limited number of immersive yoga sessions staged within the exhibitions themselves — an unusual chance to practise among Monet’s gardens or beneath Van Gogh’s star-filled skies.
And they certainly need the space. The main immersive gallery spans around 10,000 sq ft, making Motorpoint Arena one of the few venues in the UK large enough to host the productions.
Whether you’re an art lover, planning a family day out during the school holidays, or simply curious about the immersive exhibition phenomenon, these twin productions promise one of Nottingham’s most striking cultural experiences of the summer.
Beyond Monet and Beyond Van Gogh run at Motorpoint Arena Nottingham from 18 July to 9 August, with tickets from £14.
