Bristol Light Festival gets ready for colourful return

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Preparations are nearly complete for the huge light festival which is set to illuminate Bristol with installations dotted around the centre.

Returning on Tuesday for its much-anticipated second iteration, Bristol Light Festival aims to create spaces for people to “dance, play and explore the city” through light.

The free event invites visitors to wander through landmarks and hidden corners to be engulfed in a trail of more than a dozen life-size, immersive artworks.

Aiming to flood the city with light and colour, the week-long exhibition will feature 14 installations.

Last year, it was the classic Bristolian phrase ‘Cheers, drive’ that lit up the walkway towards the Watershed. Completing this year’s programme, ‘Alright My Luvver’ will be beamed onto Castle Park in neon pink lights.

We The Curious’ planetarium is also going to be transformed into a huge disco ball, with Millennium Square forming the dance floor.

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Read more: 18 things to do in Bristol this week, February 28-March 6 2022

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At Arnolfini, Sign Night – Hand Ship Sail will be projected onto the building’s side – a piece repurposed from a film directed by Bristol-based Cathy Mager.

Celebrating Bristol’s residents and their relationship with the home, Neighbours will once again illuminate Park Street, collaborating between three graffiti artists and surrounding the window of Banksy’s Well Hung Love.

Other works include Circle of Light at Queen Square (pictured above), Cascade at Left Handed Giant and Chirp and Drift at St George’s.

Bristol Light Festival is presented by Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) working in partnership with Redcliffe and Temple BID, Arts Council England, Bristol City Council and Cabot Circus. It is curated by the festival’s creative director, Katherine Jewkes.

About 2022’s displays, Jewkes said: “This year, we have a programme that feels really special and that is reflective of the city’s creative spirit. All 14 artworks are either completely new commissions or installations that will be making their Bristol debut, offering a programme of artworks never seen before in the city.

“We have created spaces for people to dance, play and explore the city – with a few surprises along the way. Visitors can take in each installation across one evening or come across multiple nights and really explore the city. We cannot wait to welcome everyone to Bristol Light Festival and fill the city with colour and light.”

Installations are are illuminated between the hours of 5pm and 10pm with the festival running until from Tuesday until Sunday.

For more information, a downloadable map of the installations and locations and updates about the event, visit www.bristollightfestival.org

Main photo: Martin Booth

Read more: Bristol Light Festival returns with a bang for 2022

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