Part of the Illuminating York festival, the annual Locos in a different light event from 1 - 3 November gives visitors the opportunity to see locomotives and carriages in the collection from a totally different perspective. This year's lighting competition, in which teams of students experiment with various effects in order to bring the collection to life, will be bigger than ever for 2012 with double the number of nights open to the public.
The initial competition takes place on the 1 November and the entries are judged by professionals during a private event. They will be marked according to four categories; safety and conservation, energy and efficiency, object communication and innovation and aesthetics. For the next two nights (2-3 November) members of the public are given the opportunity to not only see the installations for themselves but also have their say on which entry most captures their imagination. Last year students from the Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts were selected as the official winners by a panel of judges including independent lighting designer, Richard Boaste for their innovative lighting of goods locomotive Maude.
Public programmes coordinator Rose Lindsay Smith said, "Our annual lighting competition has always been a huge success, and with a record nine teams our fourth 'Locos in a different Light' promises to be our greatest yet. Due to popular demand we are opening the event for two evenings instead of one and we're hoping the dark autumn nights will see people flooding in through our doors looking for some pre-bonfire night illuminations! We're looking forward to seeing the spectacular displays and welcoming members of the public into the Museum to enjoy what the students have created and to vote for their favourite."
Results will be announced the following week and the winning team get the opportunity to drive a steam locomotive.
The competition has been a hit with performing arts students in previous years with many going on to bigger and brighter careers in stage lighting. This year's event will be attended by students from across the UK, including York College. The event is sponsored by AC Special Projects, with additional aid from Henley Theatre Services and Amersham & Wycombe College.
(Jim Evans)
