What’s On At The Festival
Browse below to find out what’s on at the main Light Up Lancaster Festival, 7-9 November! Each of the artworks and installations takes place 5pm – 10pm on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
There are no set times and no need to book for anything except the BSL tours, so just turn up whenever you want!
View the pdf programme below (click on the arrow icon at the bottom right to make it fullscreen) or scroll down to browse more information about the individual listings.
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Food Donations for the Olive Branch's Basket of Light
5pm - 10pm Lancaster LibraryLight Up Lancaster hopes people out and about enjoying the festival will spare a thought for those who struggle, in testing times, to put food on the table. Don’t forget, then, to take along a food donation to Lancaster Library where a beautifully made Basket of Light can be filled with the joy of giving each night of the ...
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Canoe Club
From 7pm, Thursday 7th November Along the canal from the White Cross to the Water WitchLancaster & District Canoe Club A little, waterborne light is going to be paddling into this year’s festival. On Thursday night, November 7, Lancaster & District Canoe Club will add a subtle shimmer to Light Up Lancaster. A flotilla of illuminated canoeists will make their way serenely along the canal from the White Cross to the Water Witch. Look out ...
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Play of Light
5pm - 10pm Market St, former Mountain Warehouse ShopBy Joe Lindley & Roger Whitham Create a unique journey through imagery of the natural world using torches and mobile phone lights. Each light becomes a star in the sky, a burst of cloud or a droplet of water sitting on a leaf. The piece uses AI image generation to create over 10 images each second, producing a real-time video created ...
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DoodleBug: The Animation
5pm - 10pm The Storey CourtyardDoodleBug: the animation, is part of a larger inclusive collaboration led by LPM Dance, in partnership with North Lancashire Downs Syndrome Group. The project initially involved DoodleBug dance workshops with young children at Morecambe Road School, The Loyne Specialist School and Lune Park Children’s Centre. The child-led sessions brought together children and their grown-ups to explore creative movement, mark-making ...
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British Sign Language (BSL) Guided Tours
With Martin Glover Saturday 9 November at 5pm and 7.30pm (each tour will last 1-2 hours) Light Up Lancaster is delighted to welcome Martin Glover to the festival, who will be offering British Sign Language (BSL) guided tours of the artworks and installations. Specialist facilitator Martin, who is himself deaf and a BSL user, and also a light artist, will take ...
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Monad
5pm - 10pm Lancaster Canal Basin, near to the Water WitchBy: Anastasia Isachsen (Norway) anastasiaisachsen.com Co-presented by Light Up Lancaster, Light Night Leeds and Lightwaves, Salford. Music: Arve Henriksen 3D: Andrey Permyakov Producer: Fjord Studio Technical: Artistic LV Monad unites the elements of life: fire, air, water, and earth and presents a circle as a symbol of time, the perpetual motion of the universe. For aeons, the circle ...
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Somnius
5pm - 10pm Lancaster CastleBy: Illumaphonium www.illumaphonium.co.uk Co-commissioned by Illuminate Light Night-Oldham, Light Night Wigan, Light Up Lancaster, Lightpool, Quays Culture and Light Up The North. A mesmerising sky of light and sound dances above us in response to our every movement. Reminding us of our ongoing relationship with the cosmos, nature and each other. An unrestricted reimagining of the world… ...
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Another LEAP
5pm - 10pm Judges' LodgingsIn a series of phone calls across space and time, LEAP takes a joyful look at human communication and the science of the impossible.
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Labyrinth
5pm - 10pm Rear of CastleBy: Shane Johnstone Supporting the work of St John’s Hospice Created by artist Shane Johnstone, along with participants at Explore Week and volunteers from St John’s Hospice, this beautiful installation is designed to encourage peaceful reflection in memory of lives shared and lives lost. A labyrinth is a single path leading to a centre point and out again, ...
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Daydream
5pm - 10pm Priory ChurchBy: Nick Rawcliffe nickrawcliffe.com Rebekah Okpoti The Girly Organist Jonathan Hogg Jonathan Hogg : Artist and technologist An audio-visual, kaleidoscopic journey into a parallel plane beyond the bounds of architectural space, exploring the essence of matter, the universe and everything… The piece features an original score written by the Priory’s resident director of music, Rebekah Okpoti, who will be ...
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The Matter of the Heart
5pm - 10pm Storey GardensBy: idontloveyouanymore idontloveyouanymore on Instagram idontloveyouanymore.co.uk Co-commissioned with: Light Up Lancaster, Barnsley Bright Nights, Salford Lightwaves, Illuminate Oldham A collection of Lancaster hearts: 100 people and their real-time heart beats. Wherever they are now, together or apart, far away or near the artwork, their hearts will remain in this space, flashing together, in perfect time with their real ...
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In Microns
5pm - 10pm Storey Galleryidontloveyouanymore & Lancaster University Biomedical & Life Sciences Department idontloveyouanymore (@idont_love_you) / X idontloveyouanymore • Instagram photos and videos idontloveyouanymore.co.uk Read more about the IN MICRONS project HERE. Supported by the Lancaster University Impact Acceleration Account and the UK Research Council’s for the Arts and Humanities, and Engineering and Physical Sciences. A new interactive artwork ...
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Shadowplay
5pm - 10pm The Storey Music RoomBy: Joe Lindley & Roger Whitham Play with an AI-powered canvas to create video and music using the movement of your body. Start by casting a shadow, then AI takes over to produce an experience filled with surprises. Expect ad hoc performances from members of the public and the Shadowplay team.
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The Storage Ring: Illuminating Science
5pm - 10pm The Storey AuditoriumBy: Simon Fletcher & James Sewell Supported by Diamond Light Source Did you know the UK is home to a huge particle accelerator? Diamond Light Source is the UK’s national synchrotron, a type of particle accelerator. Working like a giant microscope, Diamond harnesses the power of particles called electrons to produce bright light that scientists can use to study ...
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Broken Records - The Phantom’s Playlist
5pm - 10pm The Storey Reading RoomBy: Matt Tully matthewtully.co.uk Matthew Michael John Tully • Instagram photos and videos A Mirador commission, in partnership with Lancaster University Library, supported by NHLF, ACE, Garfield Weston Foundation, Granada Foundation A darkly funny ‘choose your own adventure’ game where you must help a spectre trapped within a jukebox uncover the truth about his demise in the hope of ...
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Insect Architecture
5pm - 10pm The Storey Music RoomBy: Dr Philip Donkersley (aka Dr Bees), Elliot Walker (Blowfish Glass), Simon Fletcher The Guilty Anthropomorphologist (@bees_n_nozzles) / X Bumblebees lead a secret life, their nests hidden from view. At Lancaster University, bumblebee nests are studied for conservation, evolution and bio-inspired engineering. This sculpture of a bumblebee nest in glass, made by award-winning artist Elliot Walker (Blowfish Glass) sheds ...
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Market Square Food Hub
5pm - 10pm Market SquareHosted By: FoodFutures: North Lancashire’s Sustainable Food Network foodfutures.org.uk Visit the beautifully lit Market Square and enjoy the wide range of hot food, cakes and drinks on offer from a local street food market. Grab something to eat and drink from the stalls or surrounding shops, sit in our outdoor dining space and enjoy live music from ...
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Solar Eclipse
5pm - 10pm New Street SquareBy: Ludus ludusdance.org Ludus Dance (@ludusdance) • Instagram photos and videos Noel Jones: Light Art/technical support ***Please be aware this piece contains fast-moving torch lights (not electronic strobe).*** An immersive installation which engages solar powered light art and movement. A visually stunning, durational live performance which includes film, multi projection and light, exploring light and dark, movement ...
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Dancing Fountain
5pm - 10pm Sun SquareBy: Alexis Richter & SuperMassive dancingfountain.co.uk Conceived by engineer and kinetic artist, Alexis Richter, The Dancing Fountain visualises sound in liquid form. Using proprietary algorithms, a high-frequency pump and a hand-machined turbine, the fountain transforms music in real-time into a self-choreographed water dance. Technology and creativity are breathtakingly brought together for a fully automated interpretation of recorded ...
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Big Yellow Blobs and the Box that Buzzes
5pm - 10pm Aalborg SquareMatt Tully matthewtully.co.uk Matthew Michael John Tully • Instagram photos and videos A Light Up the North SHINE commission An interactive, immersive artwork designed to transport viewers into an alternate, whimsical reality. This surreal playground is filled with spectacle, illusion, and a hearty dose of silliness, encouraging a communal sense of playfulness among its audience. By engaging with the ...
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Imprint
5pm - 10pm Dalton SquareBy: Novak novak.uk NOVAK (@novakcollective) • Instagram photos and videos Supported by Standfast&Barracks With thanks to all the staff at Standfast&Barracks To celebrate Standfast&Barracks’ centenary year, NOVAK creates a vibrant canvas, revealing the hidden world of the renowned local company. This distinguished local factory, often concealed behind their green doors, is a hub ...
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Welcome to Lunashire
5pm - 10pm The Dukes GalleryBy: You’re Most Welcome Tom Diffenthal & Lauren Paige Dowling youremostwelcome.co.uk A Mirador commission, in partnership with Lancaster University Library, supported by NHLF, ACE, Garfield Weston Foundation, Granada Foundation Step into a VR experience and be transported to a futuristic moon settlement. Explore the vibrant youth culture of the 60s – reimagined on the moon, but with a ...
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A Kind of Magic
5pm - 10pm Lancaster LibraryBy: Severi Haapala (Finland) Co-presented by Light Up Lancaster and Lightpool Blackpool A Kind of Magic is a modern version of the 19th-century Pepper’s Ghost illusion. It forces us to ask if we can believe our eyes as the magic trick is done and revealed at the same time. What can we create with bottled air? Will the glow ...
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Garland the Gate
5pm - 10pm Lancaster Castle GatehouseBy: Laura Spark Laura Spark on Instagram www.lauraspark.co.uk Enter into Lancaster Castle and meet this year’s festival theme – The Art of Science. Experience a pageant of scientific endeavours about the natural world. From the micro to the macro, cells to stars, our universe is made of wonder.
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JukeBike
5pm - 10pm RoamingBy: Sound Intervention Dan Fox, Bob Fisher Simon Hanson danfox.net Dan Fox • Instagram photos and videos www.facebook.com/soundinterventn A Mirador Commission. In partnership with Lancaster University Library, supported by NHLF, ACE, Garfield Weston Foundation, Granada Foundation A mobile battery-powered sound system with pixel mapped responsive lighting and digital projections. Evoking music, imagery and memories from the 1950...
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Wanderings with Plover Scar & Flashes of Illuminations
Friday 8th November, 5-10pm, plus Madzine Project on Saturday 2pm at The Gregson RoamingFriday 8th November, 5-10pm only. A collaboration from Morecambe & Lancaster Zine Library Costumes designed & made by Wendy @ Revamp Racoon Project facilitators: Jill Anderson, Sarah Hymas & Charlotte Done @revampraccoon @mlzinelibrary @shymass @jiclan @madzineresearch @charlottedone @morecamberisopress @goodthingscic @uclanuni @beinghumanfest Supported by UCLAN & Madzines Research How can we respond creatively to the challenges of being human? Neurological research ...
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The Storage Ring: Illuminating Science - Find out more
The Storage Ring: Illuminating Science What is Diamond? Diamond Light Source is the UK’s national synchrotron, a type of particle accelerator. It works like a giant microscope, harnessing the power of electrons to produce bright light that scientists can use to study anything from fossils to jet engines to viruses and vaccines. The machine accelerates electrons to near light ...
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Jukebike - Find out more
JukeBike By Dan Fox and the team at Sound Intervention. A new commission by Mirador Arts for Light Up Lancaster. This battery powered mobile light and sound system takes its design cues from the classic jukeboxes of the 1950’s and 60’s. Polished aluminium, angled case and the iconic curved Wiurlitzer. It is part of Mirador’s project Jukebox: A ...
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Dancing Fountain - Find out more
Dancing Fountain By Alexis Richter & SuperMasive Conceived by engineer and kinetic artist, Alexis Richter, The Dancing Fountain visualises sound in liquid form. Using proprietary algorithms, a high-frequency pump and a hand-machined turbine, the Fountain transforms music in real-time into a self-choreographed water dance. Technology and creativity are breathtakingly brought together in The Dancing Fountain. Tuned and augmented ...
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Monad - Find out more
Monad Projected onto a giant mist of water, Monad unites the elements of life: fire, air, water, and earth and presents a circle as a symbol of time, the perpetual motion of the universe. For aeons, the circle has been revered as a symbol of endless life and equilibrium. Pythagoras called the circle ‘monad’, the most perfect of creative ...
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The Matter of the Heart - Find out more
The Matter of The Heart By idontloveyouanymore The Matter of The Heart Is a collection of Lancaster hearts; a collection of Lancaster residents, and their live real-time heartbeats. Wherever they are right now, together or apart, far away or near the artwork, their hearts will remain in this space, flashing together. The Matter of The Heart is ...
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Daydream - Find out more
Daydream I love sitting in a place where I am threatened with boredom. This is where my mind goes. As art undoubtedly has the ability to expand boundaries, Daydream kaleidoscopic plane does transcend the visual brain’s logical understanding of space. Where would the brain wander if sat in a pew too long, meditating, forced into the daydream state, the ...
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Garland the Gate and Somnius - Find out more
Garland the Gate By Laura Spark To celebrate and introduce this year’s theme ‘The Art of Science’, artist Laura Spark is adorning the walls of Lancaster Castle Gatehouse with some of her favourite examples of the beauty and wonder of science, both historical and contemporary. Art is often thought of as playful and science as rigorous but the forefront ...
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Big Yellow Blobs and the Box That Buzzes - Find out more
A Light Up The North SHINE artwork An interactive, immersive artwork designed to transport viewers into an alternate, whimsical reality. This surreal playground is filled with spectacle, illusion, and a hearty dose of silliness, encouraging a communal sense of playfulness among its audience. By engaging with the installation through touch, sight and sound, participants become part of the ...
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Solar Eclipse - Find out more
***Please be aware this piece contains fast-moving torch lights (not electronic strobe).*** As they approach their 50th year as Dance in Education specialists, Ludus Dance return to Light Up Lancaster with this year’s longitudinal piece – Solar Eclipse – a staged durational performance which engages solar-powered light art and movement. Collaboratively created by 5 selected young Dance Artists from across ...
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Another LEAP - Find out more
Another LEAP By imitating the dog A second chance to see imitating the dog’s projection work, LEAP. First commissioned by Lakes Alive, Kendal, in 2019, LEAP takes a joyful look at human communication and the science of the seemingly impossible. Set against the backdrop of the first moon landing in 1969, in a series of phone calls across landscape and ...
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Shadowplay - Find out more
Shadowplay Joe Lindley & Roger Whitham An AI-powered canvas to create video and music using by casting shadows. What is Shadowplay? Designers need to learn how to be creative with AI – how to make it do what we want, and how to use it as part of our craft. We want to help people explore AI image ...
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Insect Architecture - Find out more
Insect Architecture By Dr Philip Donkersley, Elliot Walker (Blowfish Glass) and Simon Fletcher This sculpture of a bumblebee nest in glass, made by award-winning artist Elliot Walker (Blowfish Glass) sheds new light on the secret lives of bees. Bumblebees lead a secret life, their nests hidden from view. At Lancaster University, bumblebee nests are studied for conservation, evolution ...
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Labyrinth - Find out more
A beautiful installation encouraging peaceful reflection in memory of lives shared and lives lost. Supporting the work of St John’s Hospice An illuminated Labyrinth is located within the historic grounds of Lancaster Castle. The Labyrinth comprises a path around seven concentric circles to a central point and out again through a single entrance/exit. The labyrinth motif was ...
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Play of Light - Find out more
Play of Light Joe Lindley & Roger Whitham Create a unique journey through imagery of the natural world using torches and mobilephone lights. What is Play of Light? Designers need to learn how to be creative with AI – how to make it do what we want, and how to use it as part of our craft. We want to ...
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Welcome to Lunashire - Find out more
Welcome to Lunashire Welcome to Lunashire is a VR exhibition that immerses you in the vibrant worlds of 1960s British youth culture, optimistic futurism, and the thrill of the space race. You start in a dreary 1950s living room, complete with TV and nostalgic paraphernalia. Here, you’re handed an unusual brochure – a virtual reality tourism film like no ...
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A Kind of Magic - Find out more
A Kind of Magic By Severi Haapala (Finland) A Kind of Magic is a modern version of the 19th -century Pepper’s Ghost illusion. It forces us to ask if we can believe our eyes as the magic trick is done and revealed at the same time. What can we create with bottled air? Will the glow of the coals ...
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In Microns - Find out more
In Microns By idontloveyouanymore Made in collaboration with Lancaster University’s Biomedical and Life Sciences Department. The artwork showcases the stunning microscopic images taken by biomedical researchers at the University, scaling the images up into otherworldly galaxies and inviting the audience to be engulfed by the very fabric of life. Read more about the ongoing research and Bioimaging of Lancaster ...
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Broken Records - The Phantom's Playlist - Find out more
Broken Records -The Phantom’s Playlist By Matthew Tully A darkly funny ‘choose your own adventure’ game where you must help a spectre trapped within a jukebox uncover the truth about his demise in the hope of setting him free. This interactive story is housed within an abandoned antique jukebox and takes place amidst what appears to be a collection ...
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The Storey - Find out more
Click each link to find out more about the artwork: The Matter of the Heart – Find out more | Light Up Lancaster Shadowplay – Find out more | Light Up Lancaster In Microns – Find out more | Light Up Lancaster Insect Architecture – Find out more | Light Up Lancaster Broken Records – The Phantom’s Playlist – Find out more | Light Up ...
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