There are new art forms out there, struggling into the light, and also a new kind of festival exploring ways to take over the city and use the technology that surrounds us for creative, experimental, challenging ends.

Urban Play features world-first collaborative software projects, art exhibitions, aimless walking, hit-and-run buskers, new musical instruments (the likes of which have never been seen), conferences exploring the rise and impact of shared, open source and social technologies - and more. Want to come play?

Urban Play is based at The Museum of Science and Industry's 1830 Warehouse - the world's first railway warehouse which, in its day, was at the forefront of an earlier generation of network technology. Curated by Drew Hemment and Ben Russell.

Urban Play is the name of the art and technology strand of Futuresonic. The name takes its inspiration from the field of 'locative media', the art of mobile and wireless technologies. The best way to learn about such new technologies is to take them out into the city streets, into urban spaces, and play.

In October 2005, Drew Hemment, Futuresonic festival Director, was invited to participate at an event in Seoul, South Korea called Urban Play and Locative Media hosted by Art Center Nabi. The name urban play is used here with permission. With thanks to Art Center Nabi.