Atlas9, a new immersive art experience set in a nostalgic 1990s cinema, has opened in Kansas City.
Created by experience design firm Dimensional Innovations, the 46,000-square-foot venue immerses visitors in a fictional 1990s movie theatre that becomes a “living” cinematic universe.
In addition to the box office area, Atlas9 includes various themed rooms and corridors, a 1940s-themed jazz club and speakeasy, and a 240-seat auditorium with projection mapping, an arcade, and a pizza parlour.
“Our team of designers and craftsmen have pushed the boundaries of environmental storytelling to create an interactive experience unlike anything else in the Midwest,” said Tucker Trotter, CEO of Dimensional Innovations.
“It’s a destination people will want to experience again and again.”
He added, “Of course, Kansas City is the perfect place for this sort of installation – because it’s a city full of dreamers, builders and believers in big ideas.”
Nostalgic experience set in 1990s
At Atlas9, guests will watch as scenes from “forgotten films” from the 1990s come to life. An immersive playground, Atlas9 also offers art installations, interactions with performers, and a mysterious storyline.
“With a classic video arcade, hidden story points, a clandestine government agency and a mysterious story to solve, Atlas9 is the Midwest’s premier narrative-driven immersive art experience,” a press release says.
David Toland, Kansas’ lieutenant governor and commerce secretary, said: “Atlas9 is proof that the state of Kansas can dream big and deliver experiences found nowhere else.
“This incredible activation will inspire audiences, empower artists and invite visitors to see our state in a new light.
“By embracing immersive art at this scale, Kansas signals to the world that we are ready to lead in the future of creative expression.”
In more news for Kansas City, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art has selected the New York-based firm Weiss/Manfredi as the lead architect for a major expansion.
