Carmel ThomasonThe annual Lightwaves festival at Salford Quays returns even bigger and better this year.
The free interactive light festival features some favourites from previous years such as the Dr Who tardis and daleks, the giant squirrel and the heartbeat that lights up when two people hold hands to complete the connection.
There are also some new installations including, Youth Culture, a giant robot sculpture by Stanza, which was specially commusionned for this year’s festival.
A short walk from the Lowry to the BBC studios at Media City UK takes you past 19 art installations. Blackpool Illuminations have provided some popular characters and shapes to light the walk-way. And there are plenty of opportunities to get involved using voice and body movement to create light changes.
The majority of the art works are outdoors, but do pop into the Lowry theatre where you can try out the latest virtual reality headsets for an immersive psychedelic experience.
The University of Salford at Media City UK is also hosting an indoor exhibition as part of the festival, featuring work from a series of artists from the North of England who were part of a residency project last year.
Emerging artists are also supported to join the festival by the Shine Programme in partnership with Light Up The North Network.
And this year in the Media City gardens the programme has supported Jane Webb to create, Electroinika K9 Walk – a colourfully lit boy and his dog, with a detachable lead for photo opportunities walking the electronic canine.
Lightwaves 2018 is lit between 4pm and 10.30pm daily from 7-16 December 2018.
Visit the Quays Culture website for more details and to download an interactive map.
You can join a free tours of the art works starting from the Lowry Plaza at the following times:
Saturday 8 December 16.30;
Sunday 9 December 16.30;
Saturday 15 December 16.30;
Sunday 16 December 16.30.
Jordon Francis
Reece Donlan
