Huge trail of art, light and magic launches in Leeds this weekend
We hope that it provides an essential added element for people to come to Leeds this Christmas - to stay, shop, explore and enjoy the city.”
The hugely ambitious Christmas in Leeds project, the brainchild of LeedsBID, launches today and marks a new idea in the city for the festive season. The immersive art and lights trail will bring added sparkle, originality and innovation to the city over the festive season.
The trail features 120,000 LEDS, 10KM of coloured string, 1,000 different Christmas decorations, 20 pioneering projections, 6 leading UK artists, 5,000 pieces of seeded paper and one soup kettle plus world class institutions all combining to bring sparkle to members of the public.
Already causing a storm on social media with the installation at Leeds Station (SPIRIT) and the newly installed Northern Lights at the Corn Exchange Leeds, the trail can be tracked online using the brand new digital platform, brought to you by Rabbit Hole, a Leeds based creative agency, where you can also find out about the artists involved too - Christmas.welcometoleeds.co.uk.
Christmas In Leeds is something new; a trail of art, light and magic for all ages, designed to guide people around Leeds whilst simultaneously showcasing both local creatives and shining a light on all of the city’s corners.
From the ethereal SPIRIT flying high at Leeds Station, to the inspiring The Northern Lights projections at the Corn Exchange, to the simple beauty of The Wishing Tree and the family fun on offer at Santa’s Post Office, this is a hugely ambitious project created and funded by LeedsBID (Leeds Business Improvement District).
Running from 1st December-3rd January, travellers on the trail can enjoy: a gigantic and surreal semi-human shining high over commuters in Leeds Station, a shower of lights cascading down Holy Trinity Church’s façade, some added sparkle in Park Square’s trees, and a 4x4 box art experience which captures unique scenes of festive humanity. Festive light projections from Leeds College of Art, some helpful elves and some sleeping polar bears!
Andrew Cooper, LeedsBID Chief Executive, said:
“LeedsBID is delighted to launch this innovative, interactive Christmas in Leeds trail, bringing that added sparkle to the festive season in the city. We hope that it provides an essential added element for people to come to Leeds this Christmas - to stay, shop, explore and enjoy the city.”
Welcome to Leeds proudly presents Christmas in Leeds — a trail of art, light and magic. From 1st December you are invited to explore the 15 spectacular installations around Leeds city centre – by the city, for the city.
Discover them all at Christmas.welcometoleeds.co.uk
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Notes to Editors
Artists involved include: Alison Smith, David Shearing, Dave Lynch & Adam Glatherine, Lumen, Leeds College of Art, The Glass Cyphers and NEWSUBSTANCE.
LeedsBID has worked in collaboration with key partners - East Street Arts, Leeds College of Art, NEWSUBSTANCE, Lumen, Northern Ballet, Trinity Leeds, Corn Exchange, St John's Centre, Harvey Nichols and Leeds City Council – to create the installations on the trail.
The year-long project started back in January with an ambitious creative group, including Leeds College of Art, East St Arts, Trinity Leeds and Hammersons, who wanted to do something a little different for Christmas 2016, with a campaign to engage local audiences and bring Christmas to different key areas of the city.