As part of Market Hall's 5th birthday celebrations, we're reflecting on the people, partnerships and ideas that have helped shape its journey.
For Madeline Hall, Head of Creative Enterprise, Market Hall represents the culmination of years of work exploring the relationship between creativity, technology and opportunity—and the beginning of an exciting new future for the South West's growing createch sector.
Reflecting on the Journey
"When the Market Hall opened in July 2021, it catalysed something Real Ideas had been working towards for a long time.
The ambition was to create Plymouth’s first creative technology hub and establish pathways for people and businesses to develop skills, build networks and create sustainable opportunities in immersive technologies and the wider createch sector.
In many ways, that journey started long before the dome arrived in Devonport. Back in the mid-2000s, Real Ideas helped develop and incubate ChewTV, a pioneering youth-led digital media platform that gave young people opportunities to create content, develop digital skills and engage with emerging technologies. We were exploring the relationship between creativity and technology long before createch became a recognised sector and a key part of the creative industries.
Market Hall gave us the opportunity to bring those strands of work together in one place.
Over the years we’ve delivered workshops, R&D and practical training opportunities that have introduced people to immersive production, 360 filmmaking and emerging creative technologies. We’ve supported teachers, students, artists, freelancers and creative practitioners to build confidence in new tools and ways of working.
A major milestone came in 2023 with the launch of the MA in Immersive Media with Arts University Plymouth. For the first time, students could pursue specialist postgraduate study in immersive practice while working alongside an established industry partner with access to state-of-the-art facilities.
Those developments have created real pathways and help ensure that nationally leading talent can develop here in the South West, contribute to the local economy and help shape the future of the creative industries sector.
Over the last five years we’ve worked with businesses at different stages of growth, helping founders connect with expertise, facilities and opportunities. Our programmes such as Women in Immersive Tech have created valuable peer networks and leadership opportunities, while this year’s Createch Cornwall programme supported early-stage creative digital innovators through mentoring, specialist workshops, access to facilities and micro seed funding.
The creative work itself has also continued to evolve.
I’m always impressed by the different ways people use immersive technologies to tell stories, explore ideas and reach new audiences. This year alone we've premiered Antarctica, developed with the University of Plymouth exploring Antarctic science through immersive storytelling; A World and More, created with young carers across Plymouth, Kingston-upon-Thames and South Africa to share lived experiences across continents; and Night Bloom, a collaboration with the Spectroscope collective of deaf and disabled artists that explored accessibility, creativity and new forms of immersive expression.
Alongside this creative work, we've continued to explore how immersive experiences can become more accessible. Early support from the Rank Foundation led to the development of sensory immersive experiences co-produced with young people from local SEND providers, while more recently, we've introduced the Includiverse subtitling glasses to the immersive dome for public audiences. These projects demonstrate that innovation isn't only about creating something new; it's about ensuring more people can participate in and benefit from it.
This year, the Market Hall supported the production of the fulldome adaption of Our Story with David Attenborough, and became one of only three domes worldwide selected to launch the experience, securing the UK-exclusive run through summer 2026. The success of the Dazzle Festival, supported through a £246,000 National Lottery Heritage Fund grant, demonstrated the scale of what is possible when immersive technologies, creativity and heritage come together. Nearly 40,000 people engaged with the programme, introducing many new audiences to immersive experiences and helping position Devonport as a place where culture, creativity and innovation intersect.
Looking back, there is plenty to celebrate. Since opening, well over 100,000 people have engaged with Market Hall activities. We’ve delivered more than 2,000 screenings, workshops, festivals and creative events. We’ve launched new educational pathways, supported businesses and entrepreneurs, created jobs, developed original content and built partnerships that continue to grow.
What gives me the most confidence for the future is that we are now seeing the foundations of a genuine createch ecosystem emerging in the South West. The conversations are different to those we were having five years ago and there is greater confidence, stronger partnerships, more specialist expertise and a growing community of people who see immersive technologies and creative innovation as part of the region’s future.
And there are equally exciting things on the horizon for the next 5 years.
The developing Devonport Creative Quarter is creating opportunities to deepen connections between education, research, enterprise, culture and community. With partners including Arts University Plymouth, the University of Plymouth and Plymouth Community Homes, we’re building on the foundations laid over the last five years and creating space for new ideas, new businesses and new collaborations to emerge.
Bring on the next 5 years!"
Looking Ahead
Madeline's reflections highlight how Market Hall has become much more than a building. It has created opportunities for people to develop skills, build careers, test ideas and explore new technologies, while helping to establish Devonport as a growing centre for creative enterprise and innovation.
Over the past five years, Market Hall has supported businesses, educators, artists, students and entrepreneurs, while bringing immersive experiences to tens of thousands of people. As the Devonport Creative Quarter continues to evolve, these foundations are creating exciting opportunities for new partnerships, new enterprises and new forms of creative collaboration.
Five years on, Market Hall is helping to shape the future of the South West's createch sector—and the next chapter promises to be even more exciting.
