From 10-12 December contemporary artists will transform the public spaces inside Manchester Central Library and The Bridgewater Hall, offering visitors an immersive, cultural celebration amidst the festive hustle and bustle.
Visitors' imaginations will be sparked by birds soaring across piano strings to create musical scores; a chandelier of sparkling earrings and a cutting edge sound and light installation that is felt not seen. With more than 15 installations, performances and talks confirmed - many of them free - the festival will be a vibrant hot bed of light, sound and literature, say the organisers.
Confirmed artists include award-winning light artist Paul Friedlander and internationally exhibited light and sound artist Ulf Pedersen, both introducing world premieres and internationally acclaimed audio visual artist Kathy Hinde. Headliners feature alongside critically acclaimed poet Adelle Stripe, graphic designer Trevor Johnson, light artist Elisa Artesero and photographer Andrew Brooks. Light artist Richard William Wheater, working with Manchester-based youth leadership project Reclaim, will share young people's vision of what the city could look like in the future.
Launching the festival is the world premiere of The Bremen Town Musicians, a music and live animation work inspired by bestselling author Philip Pullman's new translation of the Brothers' Grimm fairy tales. The concert at Manchester Central Library includes a specially commissioned score by celebrated film composer Enrica Sciandrone for new music ensemble Psappha. The performance is part of Moving Classics - European Network for New Music supported by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union and by Arts Council England.
Following a successful pilot last year the festival will launch a new relationship with the Manchester Central Library as the main venue "to bring together exciting local and international talent, skills and energy with an ambitious programme after dark". Light works will also be on show at The Bridgewater Hall from leading audio visual artist Kathy Hinde and Liverpool contemporary composer Matthew Fairclough.
Andy Brydon, Curated Place and festival director said:, "Being able to deliver the first full outing of a light festival in Manchester is the best way we could launch a relationship with these brilliant venues. We're all looking towards developing the light festival as an annual event to inject some high quality public arts into Manchester's Christmas Celebrations. This year we have some of the UK's leading sound and light artists collaborating at the boundaries of their disciplines helping us develop the festival from a pilot to a major family event. Next year we're hoping for more"
(Jim Evans)
