The first Bristol Light Festival set to bring fun and light to the city

At a time of year when dark nights are set in and the twinkle of Christmas lights are a distant memory, there is a new bright light about to shine as the first Bristol Light Festival takes place in the city.

From Friday 28th Feb – Sunday 1st March, between 5pm-11pm, the Bristol Light Festival will showcase renowned international light artists alongside Bristol talent across six carefully selected locations to create a trail through the city centre. There will also be an additional preview night on Thursday 27th Feb, when the installations can be seen for the first time, by Bristol businesses and residents.  

The Light Festival includes some unexpected locations as well as some of the city’s well-trodden paths including Castle Bridge, Cascade Steps, Queen Square, Park Street and Trinity Steps on College Green. At each location, visitors will be able to see, experience and enjoy light art installations that are visiting the South West for the first time as well as brand-new installations created exclusively for the Bristol Light Festival.

This is the first of a three-year series brought to you by Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District (BID), in partnership with Bristol City Council and The University of the West of England.  The Festival is being delivered, curated and produced by Bristol based creative directors, Katherine Jewkes and Vashti Waite.

Pink Enchantment makes its Bristol debut

International light artist, Tine Bech will bring her breath-taking and playful installation, Pink Enchantment to Bristol for the first time. As a former UWE graduate and current resident at the Pervasive Media Studio, Bech originally designed the installation for Bristol  while studying for her PhD at UWE – she has showcased it internationally but this will be the first time the installation has been exhibited in the city for which it was intended.

This interactive light installation will transform Castle Bridge, immersing those walking across it in an ethereal pink light as they cross the water. Activated by people walking across the bridge, bursts of pink fog are omitted, and lights illuminate the way, creating an immersive experience which inspires and intrigues audiences both on the bridge and from afar. 

Play time in Queen Square  

Wave-Field Variation Q created by Lateral Office and CS Design with soundscape by Mitchell Akiyama, will feature in Queens Square, offering the perfect opportunity for visitors to the Bristol Light Festival to have fun with family and friends.

Originating in Canada, the collection of eight giant, illuminated see saws will create a truly interactive and fun light installation that is ever-changing. As the see saws are played on, lights and music are activated – visitors are invited to partner up and be a co-creator of their own piece of art!

Overheard in Bristol

In celebration of the city and its unique ways, a four-foot neon sign will be installed by Cascade steps on St Augustine’s Parade with a famous Bristolian phrase shining brightly in the heart of the city. Can you guess what it is? Only one way to find out…it will make the perfect backdrop for any Bristolian selfie!

A further three art installations will be announcing ahead of the event so watch this space for details.  

Vicky Lee, Bristol City Centre BID project lead said;

“We are delighted to be bringing the first edition of this new winter Festival to Bristol.  We have carefully selected the locations to respond to key challenges of the city centre. We will be using innovative ways to reduce anti-social behaviour, whilst driving benefits to local businesses and organisations by encouraging people to exploring the city centre.  

“The collections of artists involved, and the fantastic installations planned will bring something really special to the city.”

 Katherine Jewkes, Bristol Light Festival co-director said:

“For the first edition of Bristol Light Festival, we have curated a group of fantastic local and international artists who all embody the playful and creative spirit of the city. We are excited to be working alongside the rich and varied talents of Bristol’s unique cultural sector and city centre businesses to create a new Light Festival for the people of Bristol both this year and building across the three-year series.”

For more information and updates about the event please visit www.bristollightfestival.org and follow us on Twitter @BrisCentreBID #Bristollight