Remember back in March when a mysterious gold box appeared in Klyde Warren Park? We told you all about the sparkly anomaly, which was actually a public art initiative designed to give people around the world an intimate social experience.
Created by Shared_Studios, the project transforms old shipping containers, called Portals, with immersive audiovisual technology for “face-to-face” interactions. Think of it like a meet-and-greet via FaceTime—Portals are meant to facilitate a connection between communities that otherwise wouldn’t ever interact.
Each one is used for artistic collabs, musical jams, political discussions, or shared meals, all run by real human beings who aid language barriers and foster conversations. We checked out the experience, and described it as “a Sci-Fi movie combined with Platform 9 ¾ and your favorite social network.”
And now, what might be your favorite social network is actually hopping on board.
Twitter is launching its first-ever global experiential activation in partnership with Shared_Studios in an effort to “bring the power of global conversation to life.” The social media giant said since people use the platform everyday as a way to have meaningful conversations, it now wants to create a more personal and real experience from continent to continent.
These #Tweetups are meant to bring online conversations to life, breaking down cultural barriers and connecting all types of people. While the concept of a #Tweetup isn’t new—the term has long been coined as an organized gathering of people that communicate on Twitter—this is the first time Twitter is fostering the conversation.
Twitter and Shared_Studios will install 40 activations (made from shipping containers, of course) in cities worldwide, including in Dallas. The spaces will be free and open to the public from July 25 through August 5, and will feature various events powered by live, experiential video interactions.
Nola Weinstein, Twitter’s global head of culture, engagement and experiential marketing, told AdWeek the project is designed to bring together anyone curious to converse or connect.
“I think here’s something extraordinarily powerful about stepping into a space and feeling as though you’re teleporting into another time and place,” Weinstein told the publication, “and entering into another person’s experience that you only usually interact with through headlines and hashtags.”
The Dallas Portal will be located in NorthPark Center near Macy’s Court on Level 1. On July 26, Dallas and Mexico City will share a meal, and on July 31, educators in Honduras will be speaking about girls’ education in Latin America. To ensure you don’t miss any of the special events, go here.
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