Forging into the future

The Chain Bridge Forge has launched a crowd funder appeal so it can expand the way it teaches blacksmithing.
It already does it through in-person sessions at its High Street base, as well as through virtual reality.
That’s proved such a success it now wants to expand on it in the metaverse, a virtual world where in theory anyone in the world could learn from the forge.
The crowd funding is being done via the Spacehive website, the page for which says the project would ‘teach traditional blacksmithing to young individuals aged 13-16 blending craftmanship with cutting edge technology’.
“By combining hands-on skill-building with digital exploration, the initiative aims to inspire creativity while preserving cultural heritage for future generations,” the page states.
“After last year’s successful National Saturday Club, training young people to be Blacksmiths we want to repeat that success,” said the Forge’s Geoff Taylor. “The work was celebrated in an exhibition in London.
“It would start the process of developing a VR Blacksmithing solution which can be delivered over the metaverse.”
Mr Taylor is looking to raise £16,245 which he says will unlock ‘council funding’.
The page is: www.spacehive.com/forging-futures-skills-vr-fusion