Final touches on art installations that will light up District this weekend

Bradford is Lit will see a large number of the events taking place in Bradford city centre from 5pm to 10pm tomorrow and Saturday.

The district-wide event involves 25 installations – from Tong Street to Haworth.

A re-creation of the Northern Lights in Bradford’s City Park, is expected to be among the high points. It will see Borealis replicate the magical mystery of the Northern Lights, using layers of light and particle clouds to create the illusion.

This incredible installation, by artist Dan Acher, has mesmerized audiences and the media across Australia, Europe and Japan, and comes to the North of England for the first time.

Across at the Wool Exchange, there’ll be an event called ‘When the Clocks Go Back, Count Sheep’.

This mesmerising artwork by Illuminos will use light projection to transform the historic Wool Exchange into a vast, colourful, winter clock, filled with a curious collection of woollen items - hats, scarves, jumpers and mittens. As the clock chimes, time begins to turn backwards and the items in the machinery start to unravel, with threads flying outwards until - in a cacophony of bleating - sheep begin to leap and bounce down the tower.

Meanwhile, Cecil Green Arts have been travelling the district with their incredible light-up beasts and now they come to Bradford for a spectacular celebration of light and mythology.

People can go along to meet the Bradford Boar, Rombald the Giant and the Cottingley fairies in a series of magical performances across the city centre.

In another aspect of the event, Bradford Cathedral has been re-imagined by artists Akeelah Bertram and Adam Glatherine with technologist Simon Fletcher. This interactive, visual and sound experience transforms the Cathedral’s organ into 44 responsive light-organ ‘pipes’, visualising its sound in a vibrant array of colour.

Meanwhile, Kirkgate is the setting for ‘In a New Light’ - which is the latest installation by artistic duo Walter & Zoniel, and hosted by Trapezium Arts, which will take over a currently-empty shop front on Kirkgate.

Utilising a colourful cascade of repurposed car headlights, controlled by motion sensors, passers by are invited to play with the light installation by waving, moving, or dancing in front of it.

The ‘Lotus Flower’ display will take place at The Broadway from 4pm to 7pm, while ‘Lightweave’ – a woven installation of light cables and ribbon – can be seen in North Parade from 4pm.

The main events include

Borealis

City Park, 5pm - 10pm

Borealis brings the magical mystery of the Northern Lights to Bradford’s City Park, using layers of light and particle clouds to create the illusion. This incredible installation, by artist Dan Acher, has mesmerized audiences and the media across Australia, Europe and Japan, and comes to the North of England for the first time. Throughout the ages, we have attributed countless legends to the celestial phenomenon. Today, this immersive experience inspires awe by creating something that shouldn’t, by all accounts, be there and that is bigger than any one of us, reminding us that we are all, indeed, in this together.

When the Clocks Go Back, Count Sheep

The Wool Exchange, 5pm - 8pm

This mesmerising artwork by Illuminos will use light projection to transform the historic Wool Exchange into a vast, colourful, winter clock, filled with a curious collection of woollen items - hats, scarves, jumpers and mittens. As the clock chimes, time begins to turn backwards and the items in the machinery start to unravel, with threads flying outwards until - in a cacophony of bleating - sheep begin to leap and bounce down the tower, chewing on the machinery in a magical celebration of light and sound.

Mythical Beasts: The Bradford Boar & Friends

Various Locations, 5.30pm - 9pm

Cecil Green Arts have been travelling the district with their incredible light-up beasts and now they come to Bradford for a spectacular celebration of light and mythology. Come along to meet the Bradford Boar, Rombald the Giant and the Cottingley fairies in a series of magical performances across the city centre.

The Bradford Light Organ

Bradford Cathedral, 10am - 9pm

Visit the spectacular Bradford Cathedral, re-imagined by artists Akeelah Bertram and Adam Glatherine with technologist Simon Fletcher. This interactive, visual and sound experience will transform the Cathedral’s organ into 44 responsive light-organ ‘pipes’, visualising its sound in a vibrant array of colour. Light Organ is a site specific celebration of the Cathedrals unique history, invigorating its diverse architecture with a responsive light display.

In a New Light

Kirkgate, 5pm - 10pm

In a New Light is the latest installation by artistic duo Walter & Zoniel, and hosted by Trapezium Arts, which will take over a currently empty shop front on Kirkgate. Utilising a colourful cascade of repurposed car headlights, controlled by motion sensors, passers by are invited to play with the light installation by waving, moving, or dancing in front of it. In a New Light takes an everyday object that has become ‘invisible’ and transforms it, weaving together threads of local history, eco-sensitivity, and adaptation through this playful installation.

Lotus Flower

The Broadway, 4pm - 7pm

Nutkhut presents the ethereal ‘Lotus Flower’. Associated with the Goddess Lakshmi, the Lotus Flower symbolises enlightenment and will illuminate and inspire audiences with its majestic and enchanting presence.

Lightweave

North Parade, 4pm - midnight

Lightweave is a woven installation of light cables and ribbon, using macramé techniques on a huge scale to transform the exterior of 29 North Parade. The piece was devised during lockdown by local artist, Alison Smith, to celebrate the benefits of making for wellbeing, bringing light and colour in times of darkness. Lightweave plays with scale, recreating something which would usually be a small domestic decoration at a size that will cover two storeys.

Nero's Ices by Bloomin' Buds Theatre Company

Kirkgate, 5pm - 10pm

Get a luxury bonfire inspired dessert, a hot chocolate or a coffee, from Nero's Ices, a food and light installation by Bloomin' Buds Theatre Company. Be transported back to the late 1800s, when Guisseppi Nero came to England and set up his own ice cream business, Nero's Ices. Experience the story in this audio and a light spectacular.

Tapestry of Light - Factory Street

25 October - 08 November

Paying homage to Bradford’s past glories and future success, Tapestry of Light will illuminate the iconic red brick chimney of what was once a mill and is now home to Tapestry Arts on Factory Street. During the night, the chimney will be transformed into a giant piece of art, using modern day lighting technology to project a radiant palette of colour and movement onto the historic building.

Spin Me a Yarn - Haworth

2 - 8 November

Bradford’s rich history in wool and textile manufacture once led to Bradford gaining the title “Wool Capital of the World”. Spin Me a Yarn by Lucy McDonnell is a large luminous ball of wool that is discovered by viewers who follow the trail of the yarn to reach the ball. A light-hearted and playful artwork that is accessible for all visitors, providing a vibrant, colourful and immersive experience.

Light in the Balance - Bingley

3 - 6 November

Light in the Balance by Axiom Live is an audio-visual installation set to transform the woodland outside Bingley Arts Centre, scattering beams of light through the bare branches of the trees and surrounding foliage to create a mesmerising moving canvas of light and shadows. A fully immersive audio-visual experience will be created using light beams, mirror balls and haze with an accompanying soundscape.

Light Up Keighley & Window Wanderland - Keighley

5 - 6 November | Workshops available to book now

Keighley Creative are on a mission to Light Up Keighley this winter as part of Window Wanderland, an initiative that aims to bring neighbourhoods together, reduce social isolation, and inspire creativity. Book onto a creative workshop, or collect a do-it-yourself craft pack from the Keighley Creative Space, to help you create your very own windowsill light installation.

Treasures - Keighley

5 - 6 November

Artist Steve Manthorp will illuminate the exterior of Keighley Library with an imaginative projection artwork inspired by the library's archives and collections. Using a mixture of archival imagery of Keighley and illustrations and images from books, Treasures will create a moving banner of imagery that showcases the building’s incredible architecture and re-connects audiences to the treasures held within.

Al Asma Ul Husna - Leeds Road

5 - 6 November

The Muslim Women’s Council and The Leap have worked with Arabic Calligrapher, Razwan Ul-Haq, and Neon Workshops, alongside a focus group of Bradford Muslim Women, to create a series of three neon installations inspired by Al Asma Ul Husna, or ‘The 99 Beautiful Names of Allah’, projecting a universal message of light, love and peace.

Another highlight will be Future Cargo - the latest outdoor work by The Place Affiliate Artist Frauke Requardt and “co-conspirator” David Rosenberg.

The event, a 45 minute sci-fi dance show, is performed in a 40-foot haulage truck, with audiences experiencing the show through binaural headphones.

It takes place on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 November at 6pm and 8.30pm and is in partnership with Theatre In The Mill at the University of Bradford. Richard Warburton, Artistic Director at Theatre in the Mill, said: “Bringing Future Cargo to Bradford is a massive statement of intent that this city is commencing its run into our own exciting future by hosting some of the most thrilling work out there.

“We literally jumped at the opportunity to help bring this show to a Bradford audience.”

The show is free and tickets can be booked in advance via the Theatre in the Mill website.

Richard Shaw, Bid Director at Bradford 2025, said: “This is a great opportunity to see the work of incredible Bradford-based artists, alongside some of the most imaginative light artists from across the UK and abroad, as they light up the district with their wonderful new creations. The programme will connect audiences across Bradford, from the city centre to Haworth, Bingley and Keighley, and demonstrate the wealth of culture and talent we have to offer, whilst highlighting our world-class architecture and community spaces, as we continue to promote our bid for City of Culture 2025.”

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Healthy People and Places Portfolio Holder, said: “This fantastic free festival brings together some brilliant national and local talent and will be great fun for all the family. Bradford is #LiT forms an important part of our build up to City of Culture 2025, for which we have now been successfully longlisted. We encourage everyone to make the most of this wonderful opportunity to enjoy some superb light installations and celebrate our district’s rich cultural heritage.”

For a full list of events visit visitbradford.com/lit