BD: is LIT runs in Bradford city centre on November 3 and 4

BD: is LIT begins tonight (Friday) and will also take place on Saturday evening, with events running from 5pm to 9pm both nights.

It will see 25 light-based art installations illuminate areas of the city centre, from City Park to the Oastler Shopping Centre. 

A technical rehearsal was held last night, meaning passers-by got a sneak peek of what would be on offer.

City Hall will be illuminated on both nights (Image: Simon Dewhurst and Andy Garbutt)

The event has been described as a chance for people to see the city centre in a way they never have before.

Some of the main attractions include the Colour Project’s Luminarium, which will see moving images projected on the outside of the Grade I-listed Bradford City Hall.

Glowing sheep will be found grazing in City Park, while giant bubbles will dominate the mirror pool.

Giant bubbles have landed in City Park (Image: Simon Dewhurst and Andy Garbutt)

Installations reflecting Bradford’s industrial heritage and Asian art will also be dotted around the city centre, with light-up characters passing through the crowds.

It is the second BD: is LIT event, with the first in 2021 attracting around 20,000 people to the city centre over two days.

The event has been organised by Bradford Council and is seen as one of the key events in the build up to City of Culture 2025.

Jenny Harris, head of producing at Bradford 2025, said the technical rehearsal on Thursday went well, and the installations are ready to wow.

She said: “The really interesting thing about BD: is LIT and other light festivals is you get to see the city in a completely different way.

One of the projections on City Hall during the technical rehersal (Image: Simon Dewhurst and Andy Garbutt)

“You can bring your family in at night and it feels safe as there are so many people about, it is a great alternative to Bonfire Night events.

“You get to explore the city in a different way, discovering new things and seeing the buildings and spaces in a new light.

“Everything is walkable, if feels very manageable to get round.

“There are plenty of new commissions that people will be seeing for the first time here. There is also a lot of work by Bradford artists, and their work factors in a lot of Bradford’s heritage.”

One of the projections on City Hall (Image: Simon Dewhurst and Andy Garbutt)

She said while Friday and Saturday were the “big splash” events, there would be ongoing events linked to the festival.

These include a shop window in Shipley becoming an interactive gallery space, neon signs placed on some of Keighley’s heritage buildings and windows across Thornton lit up with artistic displays.

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