LANCASTER LIGHTS THE AUTUMN NIGHTS
The streets, squares and buildings of historic Lancaster once again came alive with amazing light art installations and projections for the Light Up Lancaster festival last week (7-9 November) with footfall cameras logging the busiest evening ever recorded in the city centre on the Saturday night.
Photo by Robin Zahler
Cameras recorded footfall of over 91,000 across the three nights, which saw people enjoying the artworks for an extended period of 5pm – 10pm. Visitors were treated to a visual extravaganza of illuminated delights, including Monad, a spectacular 3D projected display on the canal near the Water Witch, created by a team of artists and technicians from Norway and Latvia.
Photo by Robin Zahler
Standfast&Barracks offered a colourful and captivating perspective on the centenary of the company with a projection mapping display in Dalton Square, whilst imitating the dog took Another Leap through time with a moving story of human connection accompanied by the golden voice of Jenny Chamberlain Smith.
Photo by Robin Zahler
The courtyard of the castle danced to the mesmerising movement and sounds of Somnius by illumaphonium, and Lancaster Priory’s kaleidoscopic piece, Daydream, was accompanied by an original score written – and performed at regular intervals – by the priory’s Director of Music, Rebekah Okpoti.
Photo by Robin Zahler
The Storey welcomed a stream of visitors to view installations supported by Lancaster University, Mirador, and Diamond Light Source, based on the festival’s theme, The Art of Science, whilst the Storey Gardens hosted a beautiful and entrancing installation – a collection of Lancaster people’s heartbeats all beating in real time. An amazing dancing fountain, some rather unusual bees, and a trip to space were also on offer along with other meditative, fun, and fantastical pieces right across the city. Lancaster Library offered a welcoming space to relax with coffee and homemade cake, and the range of hot food at Market Square’s Night Market proved extremely popular.
Photo by Robin Zahler
Tom Fyson, Operations Manager at Lancaster BID said, ‘We were delighted to be part of the team delivering such a successful Light Up Lancaster. It was wonderful to see the city centre so busy with visitors from far and wide alongside locals. The record footfall levels helped give a real boost to city centre businesses.’
Photo by Robin Zahler
The festival organisers would love to hear visitors’ thoughts on this year’s event and are inviting everyone to fill out the feedback form on the Light Up Lancaster website – you’ll even have the chance to win £100 worth of High Street shopping vouchers!
Photo by Robin Zahler
Light Up Lancaster was organised by Lancaster BID, The Dukes, Mirador, imitating the dog, and Lancaster University. It was funded by Arts Council England, Lancaster City Council, the Duchy of Lancaster, Lancaster University Confucius Institute, Lancashire County Council (Crowdfund Lancashire), The Judges’ Lodgings, the UK Government, and Lancaster University Impact Acceleration Programme (Arts & Humanities Research Council and Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council). Festival Champions were Hotfoot Design, Diamond Light Source, Standfast and Barracks and Hoff Modular.
Photo by Robin Zahler
