Immersiverse
Series of virtual immersive art parties set in a narrative universe
At the onset of COVID-19 quarantine, Liminalia staged a series of experimental events titled "Immersiverse." In a world marked by distance and disconnection, Immersiverse became a lab for creativity and connection — designed to strengthen community and redefine the cutting edge of transmedia experience.
Highlights
- Launched in just 9 days from concept to execution
- 1,000–1,500 attendees across three events with 50+ contributing artists
- Pioneered a phone-tree-based event model reducing screen time while preserving connection
- Partnered with organizations including Burning Man and Esalen
- Open sourced production protocols for the wider community
Contributions
- Co-founded and directed the series across all three iterations
- Led narrative development and technical direction
- Designed peer support and harm reduction frameworks
- Managed marketing, communications, and collaborator training
- Built secure web portals and phone tree systems
Immersiverse 1.0 & 2.0: Immersive Art Parties Set in 3020
Immersiverse 1.0 and 2.0 were billed as immersive art parties set in the year 3020, with storylines focused on the relationship between humanity and the technological forces that threaten to overwhelm us. Conceived and executed in just 9 days from concept to launch, the events featured:
- Art Rooms — 30 planned experiences created by community members
- Dance Experiences — 6 DJ sets with a shared virtual dance floor
- Headquarters — An open crossroads space (the event's center camp)
- Peer Support — "Come as you are" rooms staffed by counselors
- Emergent Art Rooms — Experiences submitted by attendees in real time
The Process
- Designed the narrative framework
- Recruited artists and collaborators
- Created digital ranger and peer support programs
- Managed experience design and art direction
- Trained staff and collaborators on video tools (Zoom, etc.)
- Built a secure web portal for event access
- Managed all marketing and communications
Results
- Over 800 unique website visitors and 15,000 page views during the three-hour event
- Approximately 1,000–1,500 attendees
- 30 live experiences submitted (48 hours from announcement to application deadline)
- Several thousand dollars raised in donations (free tickets, donation only)
SO IMPRESSED! The level of artistry, cohesiveness (even though chaotic) and 'architecture' — so excellent. I felt I was actually in a sci-fi movie.
Open Source Production Protocols
The production protocols developed for the Immersiverse series were published as open source resources, enabling other communities to adapt the model for their own immersive virtual events.
Immersiverse 3.0: The Great De-digitization
The third iteration introduced a radical new concept for COVID-safe gatherings, emphasizing physical presence, small-group connection, and minimal screen time.
- Phone Navigation — Participants dialed into a phone tree system (Twilio) to be directed to live and pre-recorded experiences
- Pod Model — Attendees gathered in in-person or virtual pods of 2+ people; experiences were designed to connect participants with one another
- Live Audio Experiences — The majority of artist experiences were audio-based, in a conscious effort to reduce screen time
The Process
- Designed an overarching narrative
- Recruited 50+ artists and collaborators
- Built a phone tree system for experience navigation
- Created real-time web updates for event coordination
- Managed platform testing and customer support
Results
- Approximately 500–1,000 attendees
- 40 concurrent experiences
- 50+ contributing artists
- Average pod size of 3.4 participants
- 83% of participants said they would be very likely to attend again
It felt like we were part of inventing the future of interactive art.
Acknowledgements
Erica Blair (Strategy), Scarlet Masius (Creative Development), and numerous collaborators contributed to the series' success.
