New dinosaur exhibition opens at Coventry's Herbert Art Gallery
Interactive prehistoric experience inspired by Dippy runs throughout the summer
A new interactive exhibition exploring the history of dinosaurs has opened at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in Coventry.
"Unearth the Palaeoverse: Dig Into the Dawn of Time" has transformed part of the city centre venue into a prehistoric adventure featuring a range of immersive and hands-on experiences.
The exhibition is inspired by Dippy, the nation's favourite dinosaur, whose stay in Coventry has been extended until 2027.
Visitors enter the exhibition through a cave entrance before stepping into the Palaeoverse, where they can hunt for fossils using virtual reality technology, explore a computer-generated Jurassic submarine and see dinosaurs brought to life on a giant animated wall.
The exhibition also includes a range of interactive features, including touch-activated timelines, virtual fossil digging experiences and dressing-up activities designed to engage visitors of all ages.
Kerrie Suteu, Head of Creative Media and Digital at CV Life, which operates the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, said the exhibition was developed following the popularity of Dippy's visit to Coventry.
Kerrie said: "We've used gamification to entice new audiences into the gallery, inspired by the incredible response to Dippy in Coventry.
"We knew we wanted to go bigger than a standard display and build an immersive world around activities and exhibitions that have proved incredibly popular with visitors."
Alongside the interactive displays, visitors can also enjoy a cinematic journey through an ancient forest landscape created by local wildlife filmmaker Simon Watts, whose work has featured with organisations including the RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts and Springwatch.
Simon Watts will also host Warwickshire Wildlife Talks at the Herbert on June 17 and July 14, offering audiences an illustrated exploration of the natural world.
"Unearth the Palaeoverse: Dig Into the Dawn of Time" runs until August 31 and is free with museum admission.