Festival of Light

Bradford is #LiT – new installations announced for the district-wide celebration of light. 

Bradford Council, in partnership with Bradford BID and Bradford 2025, have released more information on the programme of unique, light-based artistic installations that will light up highstreets and community spaces across the Bradford district this winter. 

Bradford is #LiT is a district-wide festival of light which will culminate on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 November 2021 in Bradford city centre. Working with local and national artists, the festival will bring Bradford to life with an outstanding programme of pop-up light installations stretching across the district, from Tong to Keighley to Ilkley, and the finale event in Bradford city centre will provide a fun, free, alternative family offer this Bonfire Night weekend.

What’s On Across the District

Tapestry of Light – Tong   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   02 – 08 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 03 – 06 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 05 – 06 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. Display your creations at home on Bonfire Night weekend, 05 – 06 November, or get them to keighley Creative for display in their gallery window.

Go to www.windowwanderland.com to find out more or contact @KeighleyCreative on Facebook.

Treasures – Keighley 05 – 06 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  05 – 06 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.

This is a free event and there’s even more to come! Follow us @VisitBradford to be the first to know, or visit www.visitbradford.com/lit to find out more.

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.”

www.www.visitbradford.com/lit

Twitter/ Facebook/ Instagram: @visitBradford

Bradford is #LiT was supported in 2020 by The City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, Bradford 2025, The Leap Bradford, Ilkely BID and Bradford BID.