Undershed - an immersive gallery for Watershed

FRAMERATE Forest by ScanLAB Projects, part of the FRAMERATE: Pulse of the Earth Exhibition.
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Undershed — an immersive gallery for Watershed

We are excited to introduce our new space on the ground floor of Watershed which will showcase new and globally award-winning immersive art.

Undershed is a new gallery, one of only a few places in the UK dedicated to the best immersive and interactive artwork from all over the world.

Articles

Tickets for Sing the Body Electric - Undershed's very first exhibition - are now on sale!

Posted on Wed 25 Sept 2024

Thanks to funds awarded by Arts Council England and BFI, our new gallery will open on Sat 26 Oct, establishing Undershed as a hub for interactive and immersive storytelling in the South West.

Announcing Sing the Body Electric as the first exhibition theme for the opening of the new immersive gallery, Undershed

Posted on Tue 28 May 2024

Watershed is excited to announce Undershed, a new immersive gallery on the ground floor of Watershed that will be a home for curated exhibitions of extraordinary work from local...


A close up of a hand on flesh under a yellow and grey filter.

Artwork by Tony Stiles

What is Undershed?

Undershed is a new gallery for showing the best immersive and interactive artwork from all over the world. The first of its kind in Bristol and rare across the UK – this dedicated space will stage themed exhibitions that change every few months.

Undershed is a place to come together and experiment with new forms of storytelling. Come on in, keep an open mind and tell us what you think.

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More information

Prices

£9.00 full / £7.50 concessions / £6.00 24 or under, Refugee/Asylum Seekers (plus 12% booking fee*)

We recommend you book tickets for FRAMERATE: Pulse of the Earth in advance online, in person at Box Office or by phone on 0117 927 5100. 

Your ticket gives you access to the timed session you have booked for. It will show you the start and end time of your session. You are welcome to arrive at any point within this period but we recommend you arrive at least half an hour before the end to give you time for the whole experience (the piece runs as a 25-minute continuous loop).

There is a maximum capacity of 16 in the Gallery at any one time, if the Gallery is full you may be asked to wait a little in the welcome area until there is space. A Gallery Assistant will let you know when you can enter.

You can come and go as many times as you like, for as long as you like, during your booked session (space permitting).

Ticket offers

Group booking: Buy six or more tickets for a session and get 20% off. To book this discount please contact Box Office in person or call 0117 927 5100.

*Booking fee applies to online and phone bookings only

Concessions

Concessions apply to Full Time Students,Job Seekers Allowance and Employment Support Allowance, 66+ who have retired, Equity and BECTU members and disabled people. 

Where applicable please produce proof of eligibility when collecting a ticket.

You can find out more information about Access at Undershed here. If we can do anything to make your visit to Undershed easier, please get in touch with us - just email communications@watershed.co.uk and we'll be happy to help.

Frequently asked questions

Undershed is open from Mon – Fri 12:00 – 21:00, Saturdays 10:30 – 21:00 and Sundays 10:30 – 19:00. When you book a ticket you’ll book a session that will give you more than enough time to enjoy the artwork.

There is a maximum capacity of 16 in the Gallery at any one time, if we are full you may be asked to wait a little in the welcome area until there is space. A Gallery Assistant will let you know when you can enter.

Capacities for our Relaxed, Masked and Socially Distanced and Gallery Babies Visits are reduced. Read about their capacities and details on our Access page.

There is no official age restriction, but the immersive dark environment means young children should be accompanied by an adult. While there are no intense strobe effects, the changing light from the screens can feel pronounced in the dark, and some moments in the music include sudden louder sounds. 

Your ticket gives you access for the entire session you have booked - it will show you the start and end time of your session. 

You are welcome to arrive at any point within this period but we recommend you arrive at least half an hour before the end to give you time for the whole experience (the piece runs as a 25-minute continuous loop).

You can come and go as many times as you like, for as long as you like, during your booked session (space permitting). 

If you have booked a Relaxed Visit, Masked and Socially Distanced Visit, or Gallery Babies Visit please arrive at your session’s start time as these are all one hour sessions with reduced capacity.

We’ve designed the installation to be as accessible as possible for wheelchair users. For those who are Deaf or hard of hearing, we will provide a written description of the soundscape - the experience is mostly visual. 

If we can do anything to make your visit to Undershed easier, please get in touch at communications@watershed.co.uk, we'll be happy to help.

For more details on accessibility visit the Access at Undershed page

Unfortunately, no the artwork includes flashing images, which may not be safe for those with photosensitive epilepsy. 

We have programmed various Relaxed Visit slots:

  • 12:00: Tue 13 May, Tue 3 June, Tue 24 June
  • 18:00: Thu 22 May, Thu 12 June, Thu 3 July
  • 10:30: Sat 10 May, Sat 31 May, Sat 21 June, Sat 12 July

To keep up to date about Watershed's accessible events please sign up to our Accessible Mailing List. You can also let us know about your access requirements by signing up to our Access Register.

What to expect during a Relaxed Visit to Undershed:

  • Maximum of 6 people in the space so you can spend longer with each of the artworks
  • Gallery Assistants will have more time to spend with you if you need them and explain what to expect.
  • More seating options for you to rest and relax.
  • The welcome space is a quiet space where you can chill out if you need it.
  • These sessions are one hour long, please arrive at your session's start time.

Yes, we have programmed various Masked and Socially Distanced slots:

  • 12:00: Wed 21 May, Wed 11 June, Wed 2 July
  • 12:00: Thu8 May, Thu 29 May, Thu 19 Jun, Thu 10 July
  • 16:00: Sun 4 May, Sun 18 May, Sun 8 June, Sun 29 June

To be kept informed about Masked and Socially Distanced slots and other accessible events please sign up to our Accessible Mailing List. You can also let us know about your access requirements by signing up to our Access Register.

What to expect during a Masked and Socially Distanced Visit? (MSD):

  • Maximum of 4 visitors in the space.
  • Our Gallery Assistants will also be wearing masks.
  • Gallery Assistants will have more time to spend with you if you need them and explain what to expect.
  • More seating options will available for you to rest and relax.
  • These events are open to everyone, but are part of our offer for audiences and customers who would rather they had more space and less people in the exhibition.
  • For this reason mask wearing is mandatory throughout your visit if you're not exempt.
  • These sessions are one hour long, please arrive at your session's start time.

Yes, we welcome resting at any point while you’re in Undershed. You can explore the space in whatever way suits you: walk, sit, stand, or lie down. There is seating in both the welcome area and in the exhibition space. There are also yoga mats and blankets if you need to lie down at any point - please speak to a Gallery Assistants if so.

FRAMERATE: Pulse of the Earth suitable for children and we recommend parental guidance. 

We have programmed various Gallery Babies sessions:

  • 12:00: Mon 5 May, Mon 26 May, Mon 16 June, Mon 7 July
  • 12:00: Thu 15 May, Thu 5 June, Thu 26 June
  • 10:30: Sat 24 May, Sat 14 June, Sat 5 July

Come with your baby (12 months and under), there is no buggy parking as you are welcome to bring it in with you. Booking for this Gallery Baby slot is open now. These sessions are one hour long, please arrive at your session's start time.

The room is dark, lit only by the screens, which creates a dynamic, immersive environment. 

Yes, in the welcome area of Undershed there are spaces to leave your belongings while you are inside the exhibition. A Gallery Assistant will be in this area at all times.

If you’ve booked an accessible session, please try to arrive at your session's start time as these are all one hour sessions with reduced capacity. For all other bookings, your ticket gives you access for the entire session you have booked - it will show you the start and end time of your session. You are welcome to arrive at any point within this period but we recommend you arrive at least half an hour before the end to give you time for the whole experience (the piece runs as a 25-minute continuous loop).

Yes - but please do not take or share images of people without permission whilst they are participating in the work.

No - but the Café & Bar is on the first floor for refreshments before and after your visit to Undershed.

Yes. You are welcome to use any of the toilet facilities in Watershed then come back into the space.

We are currently evolving the Undershed model. We are likely to produce two themed and curated shows a year, plus a series of takeovers and showcases. We will issue a formal call for ideas based around our themes twice a year. If you would like the Undershed curatorial team to consider your work outside of these themes, please fill out this form.

Undershed is new space for us and we're excited to welcome you to it. We know there will be things we can improve on and adapt. Please send us your thoughts and any outstanding questions you have - email us on communications@watershed.co.uk or have a chat with one of our Gallery Assistants.

Undershed Immersive Gallery is funded by

With thanks to our sponsor Redcliffe Imaging