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Enlighten Manchester

Date uploaded: December 1, 2014

Curated Place is producing a new Festival of Light Art entitled Enlighten Manchester, which will showcase work by local, national and international artists in preparation for a major outing in 2015 to sit alongside the UNESCO International Year of Light.  Enlighten Manchester will illuminate Piccadilly Gardens with a series of works and projections for all ages to enjoy and will run from the 11th to the 14th of December 2014.

During the four day festival, visitors to Piccadilly Gardens will be able to explore innovative large-scale installations. Supported using public funding by Arts Council England, the pilot project marks the beginning of an ambitious plan of development for Curated Place; working in partnership with Manchester City Council, Heart of Manchester BID, Manchester Art Gallery and the Manchester School of Art to explore the possibilities of transforming the city centre with large-scale artistic interventions annually, and year round.

Andy Brydon, Director, Curated Place said: “As part of our ongoing commitment to bringing exciting international artistic talent to Manchester and developing artists’ practice within the city, the team at Curated Place are extremely proud to be producing a pilot Festival of Light Art this December. Building on our work in Iceland and the Faroe Islands we will bring together Nordic artists with home-grown talent to illuminate the city centre and develop talent and production delivery in the city.”

Jane Sharrocks, General Manager of Selfridges Exchange Square and Chair of Heart of Manchester BID, said: "Christmas is the busiest time of year for retailers and there is a real buzz across the city centre as we move into December. The animation Enlighten Manchester will create in Piccadilly Gardens, so close to the top of Market Street, will give shoppers an extra boost of festive cheer, and we’re delighted to be supporting this pilot scheme.”

Cllr Pat Karney, Manchester City Council’s city centre spokesperson, said: “A celebration of light, especially in the darker months of the year, has been something that I’ve wanted to see in the city centre for some time. I hope this pilot is a glowing success and we see the festival return in its full radiant glory in the future.”

A full festival programme to be announced beginning of December.

Enlighten Manchester will be open on the following dates:
          Thursday 11th December: 4.30-8.00 pm
          Friday 12th December: 4.30-8.00 pm
          Saturday 13th December: 4.30-8.00 pm
          Sunday 14th December: 4.30-6.30 pm

More information can be found at: www.curatedplace.com/enlighten-manchester/