Architects of Air’s luminariums are inhabited sculptures where public art and the viewing public become one. Here people are transported, via a labyrinthine of tunnels and cavernous domes into a sensory world of light and colour, accompanied by a gentle sensory soundscape. Once inside, you’re free to explore the dazzling maze of winding paths and soaring domes.

Founder, Alan Parkinson’s intention is to stimulate visitors to a sense of wonder to the beauty of light and colour, creating an environment where visitors’ experience is influenced by their own reaction to the space. He explains: “What motivates me to design is the fact that I continue to be struck by the beauty of light and colour found in the luminaria. These structures nurture an awareness of a pure phenomenon that gently cuts through everyday conditioned perceptions an awakens a sense of wonder in people.

The idea originally grew out of a theatre project for people with learning disabilities, and inclusivity remains a central part of its work. The experience is fully accessible and suitable for all ages. However, children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult, with a minimum requirement of one adult for four children.

Since 1992 the Architects of Air have built 21 luminaria. Arboria, dedicated to the theme of trees, is the epic structure visiting Salford Quays. On entering, visitors encounter a green dome, one of the three 8m high domes, each dominated by a colour – red, green or blue. Venturing further into the luminarium visitors arrive at several 3-dimensional trees – combined of cones and spheres assembled to form a brightly luminous tree trunk with branches that extend high above their heads. The accompanying soundscape from Alice Eldridge combines her own piano composition with recordings made or biodiversity monitoring in the Ecuadorian cloud forest.

The light comes simply from daylight shining through the luminarium’s fabric, which means that each experience differs depending on the weather and changing light outside.

As a finale to the festival, at 5.30pm on Sunday 2 June Funambulist Chris Bullzini will perform a jaw-dropping high wire walk across the Quays. And earlier in the day there will be opportunities to for all ages to have-a-go at various circus skills with the chance try a tight wire walk for yourself.

Festival activities are free, but pre-booking for the luminarium is recommended because access is limited.

Quays Festival 2019 takes place from 30 May to 2 June at Salford Quays, Media City UK. Opening times for the luminarium are: Thursday 30 – Friday 31 May 2pm – 7pm; Saturday 1 June 12pm – 6pm; and Sunday 2 June 10am – 4pm.

Visit Quaysculture.com for details.

Read about previous interactive free light festivals from Quays Culture.

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The trail celebrates the 40th anniversary from Raymond Briggs’ popular children’s book, The Snowman. Taking inspiration from the popular character it features 12 giant snowmen sculptures, each one inspired by one of the gifts from the song, The Twelve Days of Christmas. From a partridge in a pear tree to twelve drummers drumming, each sculpture has been individually decorated by a professional artist.

The sculptures are spread out for visitors to discover on a wintry walk around the Quays. There are also smaller snowmen, created by local children and young people, which can be found while warming-up and exploring the inside some of the area’s popular venues.

At the end of the holidays the sculptures are being auctioned off to raise money for BBC Children in Need. To make a bid, join the online auction from 1 December 2018.
Keeping with the theme of the Walking with Snowman trail, Penelope’s Café inside the Open Centre of MediaCityUK is hosting a number of Christmas craft sessions for both children and adults. Children’s activities include making a snowdog lantern, a snowman snowglobe and painting baubles for the tree; while grown-ups can have a go at Christmas wreath making with Ixia Flowers.

Join the Festive Art Trail at MediaCityUK from 22 November 2018 – 6 January 2019. A Snowman trail map is available at The Lowry Outlet information desk or to download online.  Tickets for the Christmas crafts start at £12.00. See website for details.

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Across the region more than 230 colourful sculptures are waiting to bee discovered and at Quays Life we are loving the hunt.

Each sculpture on the trail is unique, designed and painted by a different artist. If you’re in the Quays you can pick up a trail map from the Lowry Outlet information desk or download it from the Bee In The City website.

Alongside the wonderful art work, the trail is also a great way to explore the city on foot. The worker bee has long been a symbol of Manchester, forming part of the coat of arms given to the city in 1842 in recognition of the ‘hives of activity’ in the textile mills of its industrial heritage. Once you start walking you’ll no doubt notice the symbol dotted everywhere you go around the city.

Since the Manchester Arena bomb attack on 22 May 2017, the worker bee has come to the fore once again as a symbol of unity and strength of spirit in the city.

It is great to see this positivity  coming through in messages from the swarm of 18 little bees designed by local schools and youth groups, on display on the first floor of the Lowry Outlet.

Bee the best. Bee Amazing. Bee Mindful. Welly Bee-ing. Bee-lieve and Succeed.

Remember this? It’s almost 15 years since Manchester hosted the Cow Parade, a public art trail of painted cows across the city. If you look to the right when travelling on the Metrolink into town from Salford Quays, you can still spot one of the cows grazing on a roof. Did you buy one of the cows? If you did, where is it now? We’d love to see a picture.

Bee in the City is across Manchester from 23 July to 23 September 2018. Visit Bee in the City website for details.

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