A ground-breaking new virtual reality experience is coming to Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum this week.

The venue welcomes back award-winning artist Jason Wilsher-Mills this August as he shares stories from the disabled community through art and technology.

Jason's new virtual reality experience, 'The Wackiest Race: Jason vs the System', will be unveiled at Shire Hall on Thursday, August 19.

Taking the form of a race, the virtual reality experience allows visitors to be transported to a dystopian world of his creation and tells the stories of disabled people's experiences of the DWP benefits system, which measures how disabled they are.

Jason said: "I'm excited to unveil my most ambitious work at Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum this summer, 'The Wackiest Race: Jason vs the System'.

"I believe that art is a tool for change and I hope that this will bring awareness about the injustices disabled people face on a daily basis and help start some conversations around disability.

"This work has been created with a social conscience, much in the same tradition of the Tolpuddle Martyrs, who used their voices and solidarity to stand together and fight against injustice.

"I was inspired by the story of the Tolpuddle Martyrs to raise my voice against the injustices disabled people experience when trying to access and navigate the difficult waters of the benefit system. This work could not have been created without the voices of the six Tolpuddle Martyrs and their families, coming down the years to urge me to speak up and fight for others.

"With such a strong connection to the Tolpuddle story, it is only right that the game should be housed at Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum."

Jason is a renowned disabled artist who has collaborated with cultural organisations across the country, including ITV, Shape Arts and 20-21 Visual Arts Centre. He uses digital technology, 3D printing, as well as traditional painting to bring his art to life.

Using a VR headset and wireless controllers, players will race through a dystopian landscape which features DWP buildings alongside the cottages of the Tolpuddle Martyrs, and hear the voices and stories of real people who have gone through the benefits system.

Abbie King, director of Shire Hall Historic Courthouse Museum, said: "We're thrilled to be working with Jason Wilsher-Mills again on this ground-breaking project.

"As a museum, our mission is to engage our visitors with the history of justice and injustice, and inspire them to make a difference to society, politics and justice for all.

"Jason's work brings to light the injustices that still happen to disabled people but are often overlooked. We're proud to be working with Jason and helping to share stories from a community that is so often forgotten."

Funded by Arts Council England, 'The Wackiest Race: Jason vs the System' was created during the recent lockdowns and has taken more than a year to build. Jason has worked closely with Hot Knife digital media to create his virtual world, which features original artwork alongside transcripts from DWP interviews with members of the disabled community.

Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in the virtual reality experience from August 19 to October 1.

For more information, visit shirehalldorset.org

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