A small Bristol-based company is the creative force behind a new major digital launch in the UK by the world renowned Tate and National Galleries of Scotland. Chosen ahead of a host of big-name London agencies, Thought Den digital creative agency has produced a game for the online market designed to take contemporary art out of the gallery and into the fun world of interactive gaming. 

‘ARTIST ROOMS: The Game’ was commissioned by the Tate and National Galleries of Scotland to engage with their growing youth audience. The game offers an insight into exhibition-making in ‘real-life’, as players overcome the challenges of choosing artworks, employing staff, selecting lighting and marketing their show.

The works that feature in the game are drawn from ARTIST ROOMS, the collection of modern and contemporary art established through the extraordinary gift to the nation made by Anthony d'Offay in 2008. By the end of 2012 the tour will have shown in 44 museums and galleries nationwide, and is coming to Bristol Museum and Art Gallery from the 30 June – 23 September 2012. 

Part of the online game's unique appeal is that players can create their own 3D exhibition with world-famous artworks by the likes of Damien Hirst, Andy Warhol and Gilbert & George. The player’s score can also then be shared across social media networks, offering up a challenge to their friends to try and create a more successful exhibition.

“It’s an everyday, playful way of engaging with an audience outside of the more formal environment of a gallery,” explained Thought Den Creative Director Ben Templeton. “It was incredibly flattering to be approached directly by the Tate for what was obviously an important project for them. We pulled out all the stops. The team here has developed a philosophy of ‘playful learning’ which combines the sparkle of new technology with a thoughtful, well-informed core understanding of the learning content our clients want to convey.”

Thought Den was founded five years ago in Bristol by Ben, 28, and Technical Director Dan Course, 28, and has earned an increasingly far reaching reputation for designing rich websites, addictive games and developing cutting edge technology to bring brands alive. The agency’s other clients include Jack Daniels, JVC and the BBC, and the company was last year listed as ‘The One To Watch’ by the Bristol Media creative digital association.

Hannah Flynn, Project Lead at Tate, commented "Thought Den popped up on our radar because their work has a unique sense of character and they have obviously delivered for other big clients. Their enthusiasm won them the pitch and their creative solutions to tough problems kept things moving throughout production - not to mention their positivity and sense of humour!"

‘ARTIST ROOMS: The Game’ is released on the 1st of September and is available from http://bit.ly/artistroomsgame