WELCOME TO LIGHTPOOL FESTIVAL 2024
WE ARE DELIGHTED TO WELCOME YOU TO BLACKPOOL FOR OUR 2024 EDITION OF LIGHTPOOL FESTIVAL
Over the next nine nights, the town’s most iconic landmarks will be illuminated by a breathtaking array of light installations, brought to life by the creative minds of talented artists from around the globe.
This year’s festival offers something for everyone with stunning light art, captivating live performances, familyfriendly activities, and mesmerising 3D projection shows. Featuring an impressive collection of national and international light installations, as well as the premiere of over 15 new artworks never before seen in the UK; this year’s event is set to be the most visually stunning Lightpool Festival yet!
During 2024, with the unwavering support of Arts Council England, we are thrilled to have successfully executed our most extensive community engagement initiative ever; collaborating with over 30 artists in our
NATIONAL PORTFOLIO ORGANISATION
Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisations are leaders in their areas, with a collective responsibility to protect and develop our national arts and cultural ecology.
diverse artist development programmes and workshops; nurtured young and emerging talent to create new artworks, and empowered artists at the start of their journey to showcase their expertise and creativity.
Get ready to be spellbound as Carnival Magic takes over the Tower Ballroom once again, showcasing a vibrant display of illuminated Carnival characters and music. Witness a dynamic mix of music, puppetry, and dance that will capture your imagination as Global Grooves International Carnival performers bring a diverse blend of music and magic to the world-renowned Tower Ballroom dance floor.
Let yourself be swept along on a unique journey as you cherish each magical moment, and let the light ignite your imagination!
PHIL HOLMESARTISTIC DIRECTOR LIGHTPOOL
Blackpool Illuminations
Lightpool programme was successful in becoming a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England for the investment period 2023-2026. We are the only light sector organisation in the Arts Council portfolio.
Welcome to the captivating and prestigious Lightpool Festival 2024, a truly enchanting event that unites our community, enriches our town, and evokes a sense of joy and inspiration.
I am incredibly proud of the continued development of the Lightpool Festival and delighted that it is now very deservedly a part of the Arts Council England National Portfolio. This presents us with an amazing opportunity to unite with artists and partners worldwide. Together, we can showcase the finest contemporary light art to our audience of residents and visitors.
Lightpool Festival offers something extraordinary for all and is a great community event. You will be able to experience amazing light displays and innovation; installations created by talented artists from around the world that will transform and illuminate our town.
I know you will have a wonderful time at Lightpool Festival 2024, it’s going to be very special, beautiful and inspiring and I want to thank Phil and all involved for their creativity and hard work.
COUNCILLOR
LYNN WILLIAMSLEADER OF BLACKPOOL COUNCIL AND CABINET MEMBER FOR TOURISM, ARTS AND CULTURE
VISITOR INFORMATION
LIGHT SPHERE
TIFFANY LAMP
TURNING OF TIDES
WARREN STREET
THE WORLD IN YOUR HANDS
LIGHT UP THE NORTH
BIG YELLOW BLOBS AND THE BOX THAT BUZZES (SHINE) SOMNIUS PULSE
WE
AQUALUX
VISITOR INFORMATION
PLANNING YOUR NIGHT
Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and partners, our art trail and community engagement projects are free. Our events and art installations take place between 18 - 26 October, our Global Grooves Carnival Magic performance is on Monday 21 October. Showtown, Blackpool’s museum of fun and entertainment is open in the evening during Lightpool Festival.
OPENING TIMES
Lightpool art trail is open each night 18 - 26 October between 6pm and 10pm. Some of the artworks may experience large queues, so please be prepared to wait. The Tower Projections are shown nightly from 6pm.
GETTING HERE
Due to the popularity of the festival, there may be traffic delays arriving and leaving the event, so take extra time to arrive early. We recommend if travelling by car to park in the southern car parks and use the tramway to travel to the event. Alternative public transport via the rail systems and buses are also recommended.
If travelling to the event by car, we strongly advise parking up early. Most central car parks are usually full a couple of hours before the event starts and roads become heavily congested.
TICKETS
Tickets are required for Carnival Magic at Blackpool Tower Ballroom. Due to the large quantity of unredeemed tickets at previous events, there is a small administration fee of £2 which is donated to charity. Events can be booked at: lightpool.eventbrite.co.uk
ASSISTANCE
Lightpool ambassadors are located along the art trail and on the Tower Festival Headland, where you can also find gift and food cabins. They are here to assist you with directions and additional information on the art trail artworks.
All information is correct at the time of printing. For the most up to date information please visit: visitblackpool.com/ lightpoolfestival
GUIDED TOUR
Immerse yourself in the beauty of this year’s festival with our complimentary guided tours, offering a unique opportunity to uncover the stories behind the captivating artworks featured in the Lightpool Festival programme.
Engage with our knowledgeable guides, who will be delighted to answer any questions you might have. These exclusive tours will be led by a member of the Lightpool Festival team and an accredited British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter. The tour typically lasts around one hour 15 minutes.
Join us for an unforgettable experience and delve deeper into the artistry showcased at Lightpool Festival 2024 on Thursday, October 24th, at 6:30pm and 8pm, starting at Bickerstaffe Square.
On this special evening, Grundy Art Gallery will be open from 6pm to 10pm, featuring this year’s exhibitions STIM CINEMA + Collection Spotlight + The pARTnership. Admission is FREE.
LIGHT SPHERE
ARTIST: STUDIO VERTIGO (UK)
The sculpture is a geodesic sphere measuring approximately 4m in diameter constructed from 240 blown stainless steel triangular forms.
The ‘Unity light sphere’ is comprised of a complex network of triangular forms that respond to each other, creating a visual rhythm. Each triangle is made from high-grade stainless steel which when blown creates gaps between the triangles which will allow light to pass through the sculpture, bouncing light off one another, thus making the most of any natural light. The transient beauty of the highly reflective surface will continually rearticulate its surrounding environment.
The sphere is a very highquality structure, made with inflated mirror finish stainless steel panels, which give the surface a sinuous and fluid appearance. This curved and reflective surface creates mesmerising light patterns
when illuminated and make this large-scale artwork a centrepiece that will captivate its audience. The artwork is equally suited to high-profile public areas during the daytime.
The lighting effects are achieved by internal LED lights that fill the sphere and project reflections outwards through the curved gaps between every panel onto the surrounding environment, external lighting will be projected onto the sphere to intensify the dramatic lighting effects.
STUDIO VERTIGO
Studio Vertigo is a multidisciplinary design and fabrication studio led by artists Lucy McDonnell and Stephen Newby to create light installations and sculpture for international exhibition.
Lucy and Stephen have worked internationally for the last two decades creating
sculpture through their company Full Blown, with the help of an experienced team of designers, engineers and fabricators. While previously focused on the reflective surfaces of inflated stainless steel with Full Blown, they were increasingly drawn to light as a medium of expression. Studio Vertigo was born out of this growing fascination. Over the past five years their explorations in lighting have attempted to set up contradictions in form, material and scale.
“At Studio Vertigo we try to create objects that question the relationship between objects, viewers and their environment”.
Studio Vertigo have realised numerous exhibitions around the world, including Durham Lumiere, Amsterdam Light Festival, Copenhagen Light Festival and Taiwan Lantern Festival.
TIFFANY LAMP
ARTIST: LIGHTWORKS (UK)
An original feature from the Tiffany Delights roadway section within Blackpool Illuminations, one of the most expensive and magnificent roadway features designed by Graham Ogden; comprising 24 Tiffany inspired features first installed in 1999.
Tiffany lamps have been identified as part of the Art Nouveau movement. A significant number of designs were created starting in 1893.
Due to Tiffany’s significant impact on the style, the term Tiffany lamp or Tiffany-style lamp has often been used to describe stained-glass, leaded lamps, regardless of whether they were produced by Tiffany Studios.
HAWORTH ART GALLERY
Haworth Art Gallery is best known for its collection of Tiffany art glass. Unusually, the collection of American glass was gifted by Accrington born Joseph Briggs, who
after training as an engraver, emigrated to New York. He started work as an errand boy but ended up as managing director of the world-famous glass company.
Once known as Hollins Hill, Haworth Art Gallery is Lancashire’s finest house and garden designed in the Arts & Crafts style. Every inch of the building is teeming with beautiful details, inspired by nature and made with a love of materials and craftsmanship. Set on a dramatic hillside, the house still retains a homely feel and provides an intimate setting for paintings and decorative art.
TURNING OF TIDES
ARTIST:
THE BUTTERFLY EFFECTED (UK)
The Butterfly Effected produced this stunning unique mural; a fantastic opportunity to showcase the creativity and spirit of Blackpool, collaborating with local young people to design and create an artwork piece that reflects the vibrant energy of our wonderful community.
“We are thrilled and honoured to have been commissioned for the awardwinning Lightpool Festival in Blackpool. This mural, to be situated at the end of High Street, is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the creativity and spirit of Blackpool. We look forward to collaborating with local young people to design and create a piece that reflects the vibrant energy of this wonderful community.”Butterfly Effected
BUTTERFLY EFFECTED
The Butterfly Effected, founded by Christian Fenn and co-directed by Hayley Garner, is a transformative movement that employs art, storytelling and therapy to inspire and support individuals facing adversity, with a particular focus on addiction and mental health. This extraordinary organisation began as a website collecting stories of triumph over hardships and has since expanded to include large-scale murals, workshops, and therapy sessions.
The Butterfly Effected addresses limited resources and stigma by providing accessible therapy services, engaging workshops, and commissioning impactful murals by renowned artists from across the globe. These murals serve as a powerful medium for storytelling, capturing personal journeys and offering messages of hope to communities.
Aylo Nomad and Seca One, two remarkable artists celebrated for their individual contributions to the world of street art, have joined forces as a dynamic duo dedicated to making a profound impact through their creative endeavours. Together, they bring a wealth of experience and an unwavering commitment to art’s transformative power.
AYLO
Aylo is renowned for her role as one half of the internationally acclaimed street art duo, Nomad Clan, based in Manchester. Aylo’s work within Nomad Clan has taken her all over the world creating some of the
biggest murals in Europe, most recognisable the largest mural in the UK which stands 47m tall and sits just outside Leeds train station.
Aylo’s muralism is deeply rooted in her commitment to honouring the heritage of the areas where she paints, ensuring that each piece harmonises seamlessly with its surroundings.
SECA
Seca, a gifted street artist based in Blackpool, specialises in hyper-detailed portraiture and character work that captivates audiences worldwide. His work can be found not only throughout the UK but also in international destinations such as LA, Miami, Mexico, and Morocco.
Seca’s artistic prowess has earned recognition from prominent brands like Rubik’s Cube, Amazon, and Kopparberg, with commissioned projects for Bankhall Brewery, Kodak, and Netflix, including a feature wall for the 2022 Netflix series ‘Stay Close.’
WARREN STREET
ARTIST: CHLOE RODHAM (UK)
Warren Street is an animation that brings the magic of the nature into unexpected places. Hundreds of light painting exposures are used to create this playful and lively piece where colourful rabbits move across the space and interact with one another.
Light painting is a technique where a camera is set to take an exposure over a long time to capture pictures drawn in the air using lights.
The projection engages spectators in an everyday townscape which has been transformed with a glimpse of the natural world.
CHLOE RODHAM
Chloe Rodham is an animator and maker based in North East England. In her work she creates a sense of wonder and magic, using traditional and digital methods of animation to bring ideas to life.
Chloe took part in Lightpool Lightlab 2023.
THE WORLD IN YOUR HANDS
ARTIST: CHRISTOPHER HARRISSON (UK)
The World In Your Hands is a surreal, playful exploration of the natural world and our place within it. Inspired by historical Cabinets of Curiosity, as the small doors of this surreal installation open, they reveal an epic world, where hands and arms morph into absurd creatures, from squids and sharks to birds to insects and plants. Using manipulated footage of a pair of hands as performers, The World In Your Hands presents a view of nature that is grotesque yet disconcertingly familiar.
CHRISTOPHER HARRISSON
Christopher Harrisson is a Bristol-based storyteller specialising in animation and projection design. His work is driven by playfulness and combines digital and analogue media to create engaging and accessible narratives. A finalist in several international projection mapping contests, including Shining Shanghai, Tokyo Lights and LUNAR Festival of Lights.
JACK DREWRYCOMPOSER AND SOUND DESIGNER
Jack Drewry is a composer, sound designer and theatre maker based in Bristol. He uses music and sound to tell stories that connect with both live and at home audiences across theatre, radio and film.
LIGHT UP THE NORTH
LUTN
Light up the North (LUTN) is a network of northern light festivals which have come together to share their collective expertise to support both the development of the partner festivals and the wider sector. Through regional, national and international networking and collaboration LUTN nurtures artistic ambition through artist and producer development, co-commissioning and joint fundraising.
The capacity and depth of cultural practice within the network enables LUTN to support emerging artists, explore technical innovations and create aspirational work to deliver a compelling offer for audiences.
Matthew Tully from the SHINE 2024 artist programme will premiere at Lightpool Festival 2024 with Big Yellow Blobs and The Box That Buzzes.
The LUTN Artist Directory provides an opportunity for artists from all over the world to showcase their work. lightupthenorth.com
SHINE
The SHINE programme aims to nurture and develop new talent, giving artists the opportunity to exhibit or perform new work at a number of Light Up The North festivals. Artists are selected through an open-call process and will typically be awarded bursaries of up to £15,000 to realise their new artwork.
As well as financial support, each artist also receives a full induction to the programme, as well as training and mentoring from across the LUTN partnership. LUTN work directly with commissioned artists to support their development, with guidance in areas such as marketing, finance, production, risk assessments and fundraising.
SPARK
The SPARK programme nurtures and develops artists interested in working with light. In supporting new and emerging artists through a bespoke package of opportunities provided by LUTN members, SPARK is positively focused on increasing inclusivity and diversity in the sector.
SPARK is a great opportunity for early career artists wanting to develop their practice in light-based and digital work for light festivals. Across 2 weekends in November, the project offers up to 10 artists the opportunity to be supported through a specially designed programme of informal workshops, networking events and talks scheduled to complement two LUTN partner festivals.
BIG YELLOW BLOBS AND THE BOX THAT BUZZES (SHINE)
ARTIST: MATTHEW TULLY (UK)
Big Yellow Blobs and The Box
That Buzzes is an interactive immersive artwork designed to transport viewers into an alternate, whimsical reality.
This surreal playground is filled with spectacle, illusion, and a hearty dose of silliness, encouraging a communal sense of playfulness among its audience. By engaging with the installation through touch, sight and sound, participants become part of the artwork itself. Emphasising the joy of play, this piece is a fun, large-scale experience where art meets the absurd, inviting everyone to join in the fun and embrace the weirdness.
MATTHEW TULLY
Matthew Tully (born in a barn, Mansfield, 1987) is a designer and maker, based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. His work, in its various forms, explores the world of play and its role in design, performance and culture. In his work, Matthew utilises his years of experience as a set builder and a prop maker, along with his love of storytelling, to create surreal (often silly) happenings or spaces in which he invites the viewer to explore and discover through play.
Matthew is particularly interested in how people
might use play to develop visual vocabulary, through which they may learn, communicate and greater express themselves. He explores this idea through his work with the National Theatre’s ‘SpeakUp’ schools programme. He works with secondary school students to co-create interactive artworks, games and performance that explore identity, community and environments.
Matthew is also an associate practitioner with the pioneering theatre company, Imitating the dog, having joined them in 2020.
SOMNIUS
ARTIST: ILLUMAPHONIUM (UK)
“A dream you dream alone is only a dream, a dream you dream together is reality”.
- Yoko Ono
Somnius transcends the boundaries of waking life, elevating us to a state unbound and mutable.
A mesmerising sky of light and sound dances above
us in response to our every movement. Reminding us of our ongoing relationship with the cosmos, nature and each other. We are free to explore another version of what life could look like. An unrestricted reimagining of the world. Together.
Somnius is not an individual dream, but a collective one.
ILLUMAPHONIUM
Since 2016 Illumaphonium have successfully designed, manufactured and toured three large scale interactive musical installations which have gone on to be enjoyed by several million people over four continents.
A co-commission with Light Up The North partners:
PULSE
ARTIST: GUILDHALL PRODUCTION STUDIO (PART OF GUILDHALL SCHOOL OF MUSIC & DRAMA) | CREATIVE DIRECTOR: DAN SHORTEN | CREATIVE PRODUCER: ANGELINE FERGUSON WITH CREATIVE AND PRODUCTION SUPPORT FROM GUILDHALL STUDENTS (UK)
Pulse - A new light and sound art installation by Guildhall Production Studio, part of Guildhall School of Music & Drama.
Guildhall Production Studio is excited to present Pulse as a feature projection for the Lightpool Festival at the Wedding Chapel. Pulse will transform the Wedding Chapel into a canvas where the soul and mind, art and intellect, intersect. By integrating synchronised light patterns, geometric projections, laser displays, and a rhythmic soundscape, the artwork will present a sophisticated fusion of contemporary digital artistry and traditional architectural reverence.
Pulse aims to leverage the historical and architectural significance of the Chapel to create an immersive, multisensory experience through the use of light, sound, lasers, and projections. The installation will explore the interplay between physical space and the ethereal impact of light and sound, weaving together themes of echoes, sacred geometry, and rhythmic pulsing to create a multidimensional experience.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Dan Shorten is an awardwinning multimedia designer specialising in projection-based artworks. He has created many largescale projection artworks
for a range of clients including: Barbican Centre, BIPAF Busan, Blackpool Illuminations, British Museum, CSU Summer Arts (USA), Glastonbury Festival, GLOW Festival (Italy), Guildhall Yard (City of London), LUX Helsinki (Finland), Oxford City Council, The Rothschild Foundation, Tower Bridge and Tower of London. He is the Creative Director of Guildhall Production Studio (part of Guildhall School of Music & Drama).
SUPERNOVA
ARTIST: STUDIO VERTIGO (UK)
Some stars burn out instead of fading. The super giants destroy themselves in a huge explosion called supernova. For a brief moment, supernovas can be so powerful and luminous that they have been known to outshine entire galaxies. They can even radiate more energy than our sun will ever do in its entire lifespan.
When stars die, all of the elements inside them are swept out into space. In fact, stars that go supernova are responsible for creating many of the elements found on earth, including those that make up the human body. Even the iron in our blood can be traced back to supernovae that exploded many years before even the sun had formed. So, yes, we are all made of stardust!
It is hard to believe that a supernova occurs somewhere in the universe every 10 seconds. Like the aftermath of an enormous cosmic explosion, the Supernova and surrounding Nova sculptures will come to life at night in St Johns Square.
STUDIO VERTIGO
Studio Vertigo is a multidisciplinary design and fabrication studio lead by artists Lucy McDonnell and Stephen Newby to create light installations and sculpture for international exhibition.
Lucy and Stephen have worked internationally for the last two decades creating sculpture through their company Full Blown, with the
help of an experienced team of designers, engineers and fabricators. While previously focused on the reflective surfaces of inflated stainless steel with Full Blown, they were increasingly drawn to light as a medium of expression. Studio Vertigo was born out of this growing fascination. Over the past five years their explorations in lighting have attempted to set up contradictions in form, material and scale.
“At Studio Vertigo we try to create objects that question the relationship between objects, viewers and their environment”. Studio Vertigo have realised numerous exhibitions around the world, including Durham Lumiere, Amsterdam Light Festival, Copenhagen Light Festival and Taiwan Lantern Festival.
BLACKPOOL WINGS
ARTIST: LAURENCE LLEWELYN-BOWEN FOR LIGHTWORKS (UK)
We all know the world loves a selfie! Laurence LlewelynBowen has conceived Blackpool Wings to create for Lightpool visitors the ultimate selfie self-portrait. Glamorous ethereal Art Nouveauinspired fairy wings take inspiration from the historical links Blackpool has over the years forged with the stained glass industry.
LAURENCE LLEWELYN-BOWEN
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is a classically trained fine artist with experience in both the public and private
client design world. Although best known for his stints as a presenter on shows such as Changing Rooms and The Holiday Programme in the 90’s, LLB has been married to maximalism since he was a child.
His love of pattern and design accumulated during a Fine Art degree at Camberwell School of Arts (now a constituent college of the University of Arts London). This degree left LLB with a steady hand but a bigger ego. He took his newfound knowledge with him to a variety of design companies and TV shows before
establishing Llewelyn-Bowen Design in 1998. Since then, pattern has remained the key component to every product, project and performance in LLB’s portfolio.
PARALLELS
ARTIST: ARCHITECTURE SOCIAL CLUB (UK)
Parallels is an experiment in architectural light and sound inspired by dynamic movements and tones taken from our natural environments. Extruded light environments are created through thousands of laser beams, enveloping spectators in animated volumes of light.
Moving imagery is stretched out into endless abstracted vivid atmospheres where ethereal fragments of natural phenomena pulse, fade and flicker, alternating between
moments of serenity to eruptions of chaos.
ARCHITECTURE SOCIAL CLUB
Architecture Social Club (ASC) is an award-winning, multi-disciplinary design studio, operating in the overlapping domains of art, architecture, music and technology. Endlessly curious, we design and build tools to create experiences and tell stories that aim to stimulate and empower participants towards deeper, more
meaningful connections between people, phenomena and their environment.
Creatively agile, ASC draws from a diverse team, blending skills from digital craft and precision engineering, to sculptural and architectural design. As such, research, making and experimentation are deeply embedded into the studio’s DNA. ASC deploys a mixed media palette, mixing the material and the immaterial in creating work designed to sensorially and psychologically engage and reshape our perceptions.
Our work has taken us around the world, collaborating with artists and institutions such as Microsoft, National Theatre of Performing Arts (Beijing), Liberty London, Design Indaba (Cape Town) and The Smithsonian.
WE ARE BLACKPOOL
ARTIST: PHIL HOLMES FOR LIGHTPOOL FESTIVAL
VERSE: NATHAN PARKER | COMPOSER: GEORGE CORNES | FILM MAKER: SPLASH REEL (UK)
Representing Blackpool’s vibrant local community, with a bespoke soundtrack, We Are Blackpool is a once in a lifetime snapshot of soulful reflections and poignant, personal perspectives.
Honest, raw, real. Words weaved with wonder by a poetic maestro.
Aiming to give everyone a magical glimpse into the special place Blackpool is, its unique history and its diverse and eclectic communities.
The result is a warm and witty poem, showcasing the towns people, passions, and cultural credentials.
Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council and Cabinet Member for Tourism,
Arts and Culture commented:
“It’s quite appropriate that the theme for the Lightpool Festival is to illuminate all things light fantastic and Nathan Parker’s illuminating poem is a great way for us to shine a bright light and illuminate all the individual and collective stories that make Blackpool so unique.
“It’s always difficult to capture everything about a place and its people, especially in a town that has such history, character and depth, but Nathan has used poetry as a form of illumination, to light up the people, their thoughts, ideas, hopes and dreams.
“With progress as our towns motto, We Are Blackpool, shines a light on the tremendous backgrounds,
experiences and personalities that bring the life and soul of our town to light!
“I found it quite emotional when I first heard the poem, and I am sure that our residents and people across Blackpool and beyond will love it and quite literally see Blackpool in a whole new light.”
NATHAN PARKER
Nathan Parker is an independent author and performance poet from Blackpool. Proud of his seaside roots, his work channels lived experiences of life as a northerner, with working-class grit - and wit. Nathan was shortlisted for Lancashire Book of the Year in 2019 and 2021.
THE LIGHTPOOL ECLIPSE
ARTIST:
ZEROH (UK)
The Lightpool Eclipse is an exploration of local creative expression, social connection and engagement with nature.
Local workshops were held in Blackpool as we challenged the community of Blackpool to be nature’s artists and create their own unique species of digital moths to be viewed as an augmented reality immersive digital experience.
Using regionally recorded moth data for their outline shapes, these elaborate digital creatures featuring patterned and coloured artworked wings, created at workshops across the town, becoming a shareable experience allowing the community to publish their artwork across the globe. Each moth has its own unique visual characteristics, a work of art that is permanently archived for future generations to appreciate.
By using your smart phone, The Lightpool Eclipse will appear as an augmented reality digital apparition where the moths created in the workshops will flutter throughout the festival triggered by QR codes on the Lightpool trail and shared online. The stunning creatures will be in flight throughout the festival,
settling as an installation, a stunning pinboard gallery of creations located at Victoria Street. Simply scan the Lightpool Eclipse QR code for the experience.
ZEROH
ZEROH are Daniel Hardiker and Neil Hetherington. They are digital artists practicing in St Leonards On Sea, East Sussex. Their work blends traditional and emerging working practice, using art and technology focusing around themes of climate, community and nature. Dan and Neil use technology, digital art, storytelling and placemaking to transform existing community environments into memorable experiences. Moths have always been a strong theme in their work; they are attracted by their subtle beauty, patterning and spiritual presence. ZEROH’s interest is constantly evolving and they continue to find new ways of using moths to explore our relationship with nature and art through creative exploration and appreciation of a fascinating under-appreciated species.
THE GREEN MAN
ARTIST: AUNTY SOCIAL (UK)
The Green Man is a new work produced by Blackpool-based community arts organisation Aunty Social. Through collaborative workshops with their arts and craft groups supported by artist and activist Lucy Wright, this installation is constructed entirely out of household plastic waste and litter collected from Blackpool’s beaches.
The installation looks to folklore and its practices to offer us a better understanding of our relationship with the natural world. The Green Man is commonly seen as a symbol of humanity’s relationship with, and dependence on, nature. He wears many guises, Jack O’ The Green and The King Of May to name a couple, but when spring has sprung and winter is upon us,
where is the Green Man while he waits to be called?
For this installation, workshop participants from across the local community imagine his realm, bringing it to life through an exploration of light, traditional and contemporary crafting techniques and plastic waste.
AUNTY SOCIAL
Aunty Social is a Blackpoolbased community arts organisation that gives diverse people opportunities to develop their creativity, learn new skills and connect with others through positive arty activities in a safe, supportive and gentle space. At our home on Topping Street, we coordinate specialist projects/groups related to visual arts/crafts, film exhibition, filmmaking,
local heritage and arts learning.
We have been working in collaboration with folklore artist and activist Lucy Wright and our textile group Knittaz With Attitude, Queer Craft Club, and our Home Education art groups to bring The Green Man to life for Lightpool 2024. Along with our in-house groups, Aunty has welcomed the public to help create the installation at craft workshops and beach litter picks with SEA LIFE Blackpool to support their ongoing work to keep our beaches clean and gather materials for the work. Students of Park Community Academy have also worked to collect their used water bottles to be brought back to life within the installation.
AQUALUX WALL
ARTIST: PHIL HOLMES FOR LIGHTPOOL FESTIVAL (UK)
A 16m by 3m creative lighting installation composed of 48 unfilled water containers, which typically hold 1,000 litres of water each, specially adapted to create a stunning, transportable and ecofriendly light feature to raise the importance of water.
Did you know the average person uses the same amount of water these containers hold within the space of a year? And that’s only at home! Our great grandparents managed with only three containers.
Aqualux is an eye-opening feature with an educational twist, so make sure you catch a glimpse of it.
FUN FACTS
• Water is the only substance on Earth that is present in all three states of matteras a solid, liquid or gas.
• Hoses and sprinklers typically use about 1,000 litres of water an hour - that’s one of our containers.
• While nearly 7% of the world is covered by water, only 2.5% of it is fresh.
• 75% of a living tree is water.
• A jellyfish and a cucumber are each 95% water.
UNITY
ARTIST: JAMES FOX - DAPPLED STUDIO (UK)
The artwork themed Unity immerses viewers in a captivating exploration of human connection and digital expression. Through the interplay of dynamic LED lights and spatial exploration, this piece revolves as you move around or pass it, with the two dancers merging into one. As viewers engage with the piece, they are prompted to reflect on the importance of physical presence and genuine connection in an increasingly digital world.
CONCEPT THEME
Unity focuses on two fundamental facts about human beings: We are embodied and in relationship. To be alive, we need to be a body; to be alive, we need to relate to others. Our greatest challenges and our greatest joys flow from this. Unity recognises that we live in a digital global world (it’s a piece of technology) but also reminds us of the joy that is felt when we are in the physical presence of others.
The two individuals are free to be anywhere, breaking down the barriers of location, origin, and language, but they are able to connect, and even communicate, through the simple act of movement. Let’s encourage a world where we connect physically, and in reality, in the hope for more harmonious living.
VISITOR EXPERIENCE
Upon approaching the artwork, you are greeted with two dancers side by side, falling in and out of phase. The structures around them represent their own worlds. Light will be washed and directed to create moving silhouettes. Initially, the individuals will appear to be separated from each other, dancing and moving. As you approach the front, the two people will begin to interconnect, creating a painting of light that shows these two worlds colliding. From the rear side of the installation, the piece will become more painterly as you see the light wash on the slates. The content cycle will loop continuously, allowing different scenes to emerge.
JAMES FOXDAPPLED STUDIO
Dappled Studio, led by artist and designer James Fox, collaborates with brands, artists, and organisations to create spatial projects and digital interventions. We blend computational design, speculative storytelling, and digital art to explore the connections between humans, technology, and the environment. With a strong commitment to researchbased art, we work alongside scientists, technologists, and communities to push the boundaries of digital media for the future. Our work is cross-disciplinary, bridging the worlds of architecture, installation art, and 3D interaction design.
NEURON
ARTIST: JUAN FUENTES (SPAIN)
Neuron is inspired by the intricate network of neural connections in the human brain. The vast threedimensional structure composed of thousands of luminous filaments that interweave and intricately connect, aims to make the incredibly complex concept of the human brain into a tangible, and beautiful art object.
Each filament represents a neuron, and their interconnection symbolises neuronal synapses, where the transmission of electrical and chemical signals take place.
Light artwork commissioned by Canary Wharf Group.
JUAN FUENTES
Juan Fuentes’ artistic approach is rooted in perception and geometry, evoking immersive experiences for the audience and blurring the line between the real and the virtual. In recent years, after winning the Spanish Lighting Authors Association’s design competition to exhibit at the first edition of Luz Madrid, he has showcased his work in light art exhibitions worldwide, including Brussels, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Liverpool, Sydney, Stockholm, London, and Singapore. In 2021, he was honoured with the 40under40 award as one of the world’s top 40 lighting designers.
TOWER PROJECTIONS
(UK)
Step into a magical world and experience the delightful charm of the Blackpool Tower Projections! Let yourself be captivated by the mesmerising display of lights, colours and music that will transport you to a whimsical era full of vintage allure and soothing tunes.
Immerse yourself in a world of wonder and enchantment as you celebrate Blackpool in a truly unique way! These shows are a must-see for both visitors and locals, showcasing the splendour of Blackpool Tower.
With multiple shows nightly starting at 6pm, you won’t want to miss out on this spectacular experience.
Bring your family and friends along to witness the magic first hand and create lasting memories together!
BLACKPOOL TOWER PROJECTION SHOWS
• The Sooty Projection Show
• Micro created by Hotaru Visual Guerrilla
• Circus 250
• History of Dance
• 2024 Switch-On
• History of Blackpool
• Enchanted
• Blackpool created by Cecile Llewelyn-Bowen
TOWER AND GOLDEN MILE LIGHT SHOW
ARTIST: GREG MCLENAHAN - ENTERTAINMENT CONCEPTS, MITCH BAILEY - PDA CONCEPTS (UK)
The Blackpool Tower is emblazoned with a glowing heart and 25,000 lights on the structure. Join us for this sensational light show, as we bring the Tower and promenade to life with a sound and light spectacular.
The Golden Mile features 21 neon lighting features with three different designs, designed by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and manufactured by Lightworks.
There are four light shows running every night during Lightpool Festival at 7pm, 8pm, 9pm and 10pm.
FUN FACTS
• There is over 2.2km of neon in the Golden Mile display.
• The Blackpool Tower is designed to fall into the sea.
• The Blackpool Tower contains 2,500 tonnes of iron, and five million bricks.
• On September 29th 1891, The Blackpool Tower’s foundation stone was laid with a time capsule buried underneath it.
• The Comedy Carpet on the Tower Festival Headland features the names, jokes, songs and comedy catchphrases from more than 1,000 of Britain’s best loved comedians.
FLUX EXTENDED
ARTIST: COLLECTIF SCALE | MUSIC: GRÉGORY SÉMAH (FRANCE)
Flux was commissioned by the Grand Est Region and created in 2021 as part of the Constellations Festival in Metz, France. Its mutant and modular form has made it an undisputed success since its creation.
Over the last three years, Flux has been in high demand, travelling the world and appearing on music stages and at artistic events. Its kinetic architecture composed of lines of dynamic light is motorised and controlled in real time.
The formal multiplication of lines coupled with subtle variations of temporal phases, speeds and amplitudes sculpts an organic object, which oscillates
between poetic waves and frenetic undulations. There are two different shows featuring at Lightpool 2024.
COLLECTIF SCALE
Collectif Scale is a group of creatives from very different professional and artistic backgrounds. A French-based collective, Scale is above all a group of passionate friends who wanted to do something unique in their spare time by bringing their expertise together. They take inspiration from the world of contemporary art as well as from mainstream and pop culture.
Instagram/collectifscale
MEDUSAE
ARTIST: SIMON CLEGG FOR LIGHTWORKS (UK)
Are you ready for a fun aquatic adventure? Our amazing interactive installation awaits you, featuring the most vibrant and mesmerising jellyfish you’ve ever seen! Immersed in a sea of colours and light shows, this experience is sure to uplift your spirits and dazzle your senses.
The best part? Our friendly jellyfish won’t sting youthey’re just here to spread joy and showcase their funky lighting.
The cool lighting was created because of some amazing local schoolchildren who imagined their own versions of jellyfish! This just goes to show that creativity knows no bounds and can come from anyone, even the little ones. Can you imagine what other awesome designs we could come up with if we let our imaginations run wild like these kids did? We can’t wait to see what other
masterpieces we can create in the future!
FUN JELLYFISH FACTS
• They have no brain, heart or bones.
• A jellyfish’s mouth is found in the centre of its body.
• They aren’t actually fishthey’re plankton.
• They can range in size from less than an inch to nearly seven feet long, with tentacles up to 100 feet long.
• They are composed of 98% water.
• They have complicated vision. They have around 24 eyes, out of which only two can detect colour.
SIMON CLEGG
Simon Clegg is a highly accomplished graphic designer and illustrator. His talent was clearly
evident during his studies at Blackpool & Fylde College, where he received a commendation diploma.
Simon gained valuable experience working in tabloid newspapers, designing features, illustrations and advertising before taking on a role as Concept Designer at EDS Studios. There, he demonstrated his exceptional design skills by creating themed rides for worldrenowned organisations such as The Trafford Centre, Legoland, Coral Island, The Blackpool Tower, and Sea Life Centre.
Simon said: “My time with the design team at Blackpool Illuminations has been an incredible journey, full of opportunities to enhance the traditional and marry it with the latest technology. I hope my passion and joy in creating something impactful and beautiful is evident in Medusae. Bring on the light.”
SPIRO
ARTIST: LIGHTWORKS (UK)
A family-friendly immersive walk-through sculptural tunnel of light experience.
This 26m-long magical experience is made of individually mapped LEDs
that allow complex patterns to dance around the audience.
Get your camera ready and remember the moment.
A KIND OF MAGIC
ARTIST: SEVERI HAAPALA (FINLAND)
A Kind Of Magic plays with the optical illusion. It’s a modern version of the 19th-century Pepper’s Ghost illusion. It forces us to think can we believe our eyes as the magic trick is done and revealed at the same time.
The work takes different forms of matter into a playful treatment. What can we create with bottled air? Will the glow of the coals create heat, and will the heartshaped cloud eventually form from smoke, steam, haze, or magic? No smoke without fire?
Friday 18th - Sunday 26th October, 6pm - 10pm (last admission 9pm)
£7.50 for all adults, kids go free* OR 50% off regular daytime admission with this brochure during Lightpool. *Max of 2 children per adult
Email: info@showtownblackpool.co.uk X: @ShowtownBPL Facebook: /showtownblackpool Instagram: /showtownBPL
THE ILLUMINATED ICE CREAM CART
ARTIST:
SAMANTHA JONES | ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER: ECATERINA STEFANESCU IN COLLABORATION WITH GRANGE PARK RESIDENTS
(UK)
Have you ever wanted to create your own utopia? A community from Grange Park, Blackpool have been exploring just that. Made with locally grown fruit, their community ice cream project will bring a taste of happiness to Lightpool.
The Illuminated Ice Cream Cart - a commission from LeftCoast, led by Artist Samantha Jones and Architectural Designer Ecaterina Stefanescu in collaboration with Grange Park residents, invites you to ask the questions “what makes you happy?” and “who has the right to happiness?”.
GROWTH
ARTIST: NATHAN PARKER (UK)
Hear local poet Nathan Parker’s words, as he teams up with illustrator Laura Kate Chapman, to create a botanical light projection that grows up the wall behind Revoe’s temporary public square. Growth is a LeftCoast commission that explores the community’s right to grow in Blackpool.
Through poetry, Nathan creatively investigates how we can talk about ideas around access to green space, the importance of plants to our wellbeing, foraging and picking fruit. How can residents in a town like Blackpool connect with the natural world around us?
The projection is at the former George Pub 174 Central Drive, FY1 5EA, 19, 20, 21 October6pm to 10pm.
CARNIVAL MAGIC
ARTIST: GLOBAL GROOVES
Carnival Magic will once again be enchanting the Tower Ballroom with a spectacular showcase of music, puppetry and dance. Internationally recognised Carnival performers will present a showstopper performance, bringing a diverse melting pot of Carnival magic.
From giant hand-crafted puppets to stunning illuminated dancers, there will be something for all the family.
LARGER THAN LIFE PUPPETS
Dance along with giant Peacocks, Manny and his hip-hop entourage, and the gentle Light Spirit, decked out in her golden finery. Make sure to stick around to grab yourself a selfie with them after the show!
BANGING BEATS
New Orleans meets 90s rave classics, joining forces with big beats from red-hot Carnival drummers and sounds from across the globe. Expect Mr Wilson’s Second Liners, Katumba Bloco, solo musicians and more.
CARNIVAL MAGIC
Watch as illuminated costumes and performers flood the stage, featuring incredible music, movement and more.
THE GRAND FINALE
As the show culminates, audiences will be invited to join all puppets and performers for the final crescendo. Feel the energy and dance with friends old and new!
ALL ABOUT GLOBAL GROOVES
Global Grooves is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning carnival and outdoor arts company. Specialising in Carnival presentation and engagement, Global Grooves inspires young people, communities and artists regionally, nationally and internationally.
A leading social enterprise, Global Grooves brings inspirational Carnival practice from around the world into communities across the UK and beyond. We are passionate about embracing authentic, diverse art forms with integrity and respect, and to developing a distinctive UK Carnival aesthetic.
Mission: To unite and empower individuals and communities through opportunities to experience and create inspirational art.
EXPERIENCE OUR TRUE CINEMATIC WONDERLAND WITH PRIVATE SCREENINGS, BOTTOMLESS DRINKS, FESTIVE FEASTS & ACCESS TO YOUR OWN STUDIO SPACE FOR THAT EXTRA TOUCH OF EXCLUSIVITY WITH OUR CHRISTMAS PACKAGES!
CHRISTMAS PACKAGES
CHOOSE FROM A CURATED SELECTION OF CLASSIC CHRISTMAS FILMS OR ENJOY ONE OF OUR LATES RELEASES, ALL WHILE INDULDGING IN OUR DELICIOUS MENU.
NEW RELEASES
FESTIVE FEASTS
FIT2GLOW
Lightpool Festival in partnership with Blackpool Football Club Community Trust are to hold UV Football events for Blackpool Year 2 Primary Schools and Blackpool Academy, during October.
Teams from local schools and the academy will don neon bibs, glow in the
dark accessories for the 5-a-side competition, in an innovative and fun-filled event, which forms just part of the Education and Health initiative work undertaken by BFCCT. The unique concept offers a perfect mix of fun, sport and family activity.
playground of ultra-violet light and glow in the dark sport; when the lights are switched off - the games begin.
The winning teams from each heat will take part in the Fit2Glow final at Blackpool Tower Circus on 14 October.
The sports halls will be transformed into a
7 OCTOBER - BLACKPOOL SPORTS CENTRE, 8 OCTOBER - PALATINE SPORTS CENTRE, 9 OCTOBER - MOOR PARK SPORTS CENTRE, 14 OCTOBER - THE BLACKPOOL TOWER CIRCUS (FINAL)
GLOW WITH THE FLOW
Step into a world of vibrant colours and dazzling projections as Birmingham’s Flatpack Festival comes to
Come to Showtown for a special afternoon of wonder, featuring interactive touch screen sessions that transform short films into multi-sensory adventures.
Experience our enchanting light and coloured themed films through touch, sound and movement. An immersive film experience suitable for all the family, especially our sensory seeking young visitors.
21 October
Session A 1pm - 1:40pm Session B 3pm - 3:40pm
Tickets: Child - £2
Accompanying adults go free.
To book visit: showtownblackpool.co.uk or call 0808 175 6929
LIGHTPOOL ARTIST DEVELOPMENT
DIGILAB
For early career / developing artists, Digilab is a free workshop week for artists who want to develop skills in projection-mapping, led by imitating the dog, and held at Lightworks, the home of Blackpool Illuminations. Participants learn about imitating the dog’s approach to site-specific projection mapping work, from storyboarding, through basic animation and projection mapping techniques.
To find out more, visit: imitatingthedog. co.uk/project/digilabblackpool-2024
LIGHTLAB
The programme aims to encourage the development of high-quality light art with artists from a diverse range of backgrounds who may have never worked with light before.
This skills development programme is aimed at adult artists who are motivated and inspired to develop their practice towards creating work that could be commissioned by light art festivals and for exhibition in a gallery context.
Artists are supported by sector specialists to develop their ideas and gain knowledge on making and touring light art in festival and gallery contexts. Artists participating will gain practical experience and skills they can build on.
The workshops are held in Blackpool and across the UK with Lightpool partners.
SPARK
The Light Up The North SPARK programme nurtures and develops artists interested in working with light. In supporting new and emerging artists through a bespoke package of opportunities provided by LUTN members, SPARK is positively focused on increasing inclusivity and diversity in the sector.
SPARK is a great opportunity for early career artists wanting to develop their practice in light-based and digital work for light festivals. Across two weekends in November, the project offers up to 10 artists the opportunity to be supported through a specially designed programme of informal workshops, networking events and talks scheduled to complement two LUTN partner festivals.
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
Our Artist in Residence programme offers a lifechanging collaboration between 2 artists, Lightpool and Lightworks, the renowned home of Blackpool Illuminations.
The programme runs for a period of four months, during which time the artists will have access to space at Lightworks and all the latest digital technologies and manufacturing facilities they need to experiment and bring their vision to life.
This exceptional programme provides two talented artists with the space and resources they need to support and elevate their artistic visions to new heights. In addition, the artists will have the chance to collaborate with the range of experts at Lightworks who can offer support and inspiration for their work.
Whether you are an established artist looking for a fresh challenge or an emerging talent seeking to take your work to the next level, our Artist in Residence programme is the perfect opportunity to push your creative boundaries; and experience a truly transformative artistic experience!
PARTNERS AND SPONSORS
ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND
Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. We have set out our strategic vision in Let’s Create that by 2030 we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone of us has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences. From 2023 to 2026 we will invest over £467 million of public money from Government and an estimated £250 million from The National Lottery each year to help support the sector and to deliver this vision.
artscouncil.org.uk
BLACKPOOL HOUSING COMPANY
Blackpool Housing Company was formed in 2015 and has set itself the ambitious task of making a critical intervention in the private rented market across the inner areas of the town. Our core aim is to acquire poor quality existing homes and redundant or derelict buildings and to make significant investment in remodelling and renovating them into desirable yet affordable homes for rent.
We offer a wider choice of homes that set new standards in the PRS which is backed by our own dedicated property lettings and management team. We have a strong vision to be the ‘Landlord of Choice’ with a customer facing brand identity ‘My Blackpool Home’. Our development focus is on improving homes and neighbourhoods through targeted investment that delivers maximum effect.
Ultimately, we are focused on providing desirable places to live in attractive neighbourhoods where our customers can enjoy a good quality of life.
EVALUATION
Tell us about your visit to Lightpool Festival for a chance to win a £100 e-voucher!
Please scan this QR code or go to: smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ Lightpool2024 to access our short survey and tell us about your visit to the Lightpool Festival. The survey will open on the first day of the Festival (18 October 2024). As a thank you, we’ll enter you in a prize draw for the chance to win a £100 shopping e-voucher.
SPONSORS SUPPORTERS
