Bristol Light Festival to return in March
Organisers hope it can be a key part of the city's recovery from the pandemic
Special light installations will appear across Bristol in March, as part of the Bristol Light Festival.
Organisers have announced today that the event will be back from March 1-6, bringing together, "a showcase of renowned light artists and installations from across the UK".
It is designed to entice visitors into the city centre and, as the release announcing the news says, "enjoy the Bristol’s wonderful retail and hospitality businesses along the way".
This year organisers say the festival will feature six world premier works, brand new for Bristol, alongside some of the best of the UK’s talent, all making their Bristol debut at carefully selected locations across the city.
The installations will shine from 5pm-10pm each day in places including Park Street, Queen Square, St George’s Bristol, Cabot Circus, Castle Bridge, Temple Gardens, College Green and the Harbourside.
There will also be some daylight and "green energy" installations, thanks to a grant from Arts Council England.
Vicky Lee, Head of Bristol City Centre BID, said; “We are delighted to be bringing Bristol Light Festival back to the city this year and hope it will be a marker of change to brighter times ahead.
"The festival is a key part of the recovery programme to help support businesses back to full strength after the challenging last two years, by encouraging people to explore and spend leisure time in the city centre.
“We have selected locations to respond to key challenges in the city centre and will be using innovative ways to reduce anti-social behaviour and transform the streets into playful spaces for all."
One of this year’s new commissions for Bristol Light Festival is being created by Squidsoup, a group of internationally renowned artists, designers and technologists.
‘Cascade’ is described as "an exuberant fountain of energy, light and sound", that will emanate from the top of Left Handed Giant brewpub creating waves of sound and light as it cascades into the river below.
Another will be in the garden at St George’s Bristol (just off Park Street) and will feature a flock of illuminated instruments that look like birds.
As visitors walk beneath, organisers say they will hear "gentle tones and harmonies" made by accordion reeds hidden inside each ‘bird’.
“This year, we have curated a programme that is reflective of Bristol’s creative spirit – we want to make space for people to dance, play and explore all that Bristol has to offer," Vicky Lee said.
"Many pieces in the programme this year are completely new works which will have their worldwide debut in Bristol.
"We are thrilled to be showcasing a mix of homegrown talent, artists from the South West who have never been shown on this scale in the city before, alongside some of the most exciting artists in the UK today.
“We know that it’s been a difficult few years for many since our last edition at the start of 2020, and hope that our return shines a hopeful new light on the year to come”.
If you want to find out more about the festival you can do so here.