Knife Angel AR Installation– Youth Voice and Violence Prevention
In partnership with Luton Borough Council, Luton Rising, and Bedfordshire & Luton Community Foundation
Tap Out – Youth Safety & Exploitation Awareness Mobile App
Developed in partnership with Luton Youth Partnership Targeted Youth Service
The Knife Angel AR Installation brought an iconic national sculpture into a digital storytelling experience that amplified the voices of young people affected by or concerned about knife crime. Using augmented reality, we transformed the sculpture into an interactive monument where poetry, spoken word and artwork created by children and young people from Luton could be seen and heard in St George’s Square. This allowed the community to engage directly with powerful personal reflections linked to loss, hope, identity and change.
The project ran alongside a town-wide violence prevention programme, including Operation Sceptre and a youth art competition, with the winning piece digitally embedded into the AR experience. The installation served both as a memorial for lives lost and a platform for young people to shape the narrative around safety, belonging and community care.
Project Leads
Matthew Bushnell
Key Outcomes:
AR used to make memorial space interactive, accessible and emotionally resonant
Young people’s creative work elevated into a public cultural spotlight
Supported town-level conversations about safety, grief, resilience and prevention
Embedded into wider awareness and outreach programmes across schools and community spaces
Created a legacy fund to sustain local youth-led violence reduction initiatives
“Mary Seacole played a crucial role in bringing the Knife Angel project to life through innovative augmented reality. Their work enabled children’s artwork to be animated and voiced by the Angel itself, creating a powerful and engaging way for young people to speak out against violence. The AR experience reached thousands across Luton and made the Knife Angel’s visit even more meaningful for our community.”