CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A new immersive experience is coming to Charlotte, and it's out of this world.
After the success of the Immersive Van Gogh exhibition that ran in Charlotte for nearly six months starting in summer 2021, Blumenthal Arts has announced a new immersive experience is taking off in the Queen City later this year. SPACE EXPLORERS: THE INFINITE is inspired by NASA missions aboard the International Space Station.
It will debut in Charlotte on Sept. 20 at the Iron District in Uptown Charlotte -- formerly the location of Charlotte Pipe and Foundry -- and runs through Nov. 10.
“We are over the moon to announce the future of Blumenthal Arts programming,” Blumenthal Arts president and CEO Tom Gabbard said.
Gabbard noted the Van Gogh Exhibit "proved there's an appetite" for immersive experiences, saying fans of Blumenthal Arts have been asking what comes next.
"Charlotte has cultivated a growing international reputation in the immersive space," he said. "We’ve traveled the world to prepare for this moment and usher Charlotte into the future of experiential art.”
That's what Blumenthal Arts is hoping to do with SPACE EXPLORERS: THE INFINITE.
Using immersive virtual reality, attendees will be taken to the International Space Station, 250 miles above Earth. The experience features encounters with astronauts, Earth-gazing, and more.
"It's more than just a simple expedition, it's an emotional odyssey that leaves a lasting impression—it stays with you," Blumenthal Arts said in a news release.
The launch of THE INFINITE will be the first exhibit in Blumenthal Arts' new programming pillar Blume Studios, which will focus on how technology, the arts, and community intersect.
“Real estate developers are coming to understand the power of what we do to not only draw crowds, but provide color, texture, and a creative spark that brings economic vitality and success to a growing community," Gabbard said. "We are honored to be the first residents and partners to help bring the Iron District to life.”
Blumenthal Arts is the first new resident of the Iron District. Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company CEO Hooper Hardison said it's the initial step in a bigger movement for the district.
"We can’t imagine a better way to start to bring that vision to life than with Blumenthal Arts, whose innovation and creativity have shaped Charlotte’s arts offerings for decades," Hardison said.
Among those arts offerings, the Immersive Van Gogh exhibition was record-breaking for the Queen City. It played more than 1,600 performances in Charlotte, and sold more than 300,000 tickets in its months-long run starting in 2021 and ending in 2022 after three extensions due to popular demand, according to Blumenthal Arts.
Gabbard said Blumenthal Arts learned from that experience there were a lot more people they could reach.
“Primarily people who’d never bought a ticket to Blumenthal before, which really opened our eyes to the fact that we needed new exciting products," Gabbard said.
They spent two years searching for space, and landed on renting a warehouse at the old Charlotte Pipe and Foundry site in Uptown -- once a possible spot for a new football stadium, now set to be home to the city’s new Iron District.
Brad Muller, Charlotte Pipe and Foundry vice president of corporate communications, said Blumenthal is the first business, with hopes of many more businesses to come.
“It could be anything, really, we’re still pondering ideas," Muller said. "But having Blumenthal is an exciting first step.”
Blumenthal’s CEO said it could be very exciting and lucrative for the city, since they plan to be the first in the country to debut a lot of the exhibits that will come here.
“So people will have a reason to get on a plane, get in car, travel here, stay overnight and go to restaurants, so we think the potential for economic tourism and benefit the entire hospitality community is going to be a great one," Gabbard said.
Blumenthal Arts said it believes part of the success of the Van Gogh exhibition was due to its efforts working with local artists to reconstruct and transform Camp North End into an immersive museum experience. Those planning to attend THE INFINITE can expect something similar, Blumenthal Arts said.
More information on related activities and art exhibits will be released closer to the official launch.
Tickets can be purchased online through Blumenthal Arts.