9:50am Thursday 9th September 2010
York Minster will once again be the centrepiece of the city’s spectacular annual sound and light show, after a two-year break.
Tourist bosses have unveiled plans for the sixth annual Illuminating York festival, which will run from October 27 to 30.
The event, which attracts thousands of visitors to the city every year, giving the local economy a £2 million boost, transforms some of York’s oldest and most iconic buildings into canvases for digital, light-based interactive artworks.
York Minster’s 15th century Rose Window is set to the showpiece of this year’s festival, thanks to a ten-minute evolving piece of artwork, called Rose, by light artist Ross Ashton and sound artist Karen Monid.
The duo will use high-power slide projectors to create gigantic “magic lantern” effects on to the window, bathing the entire end of the South Transept in colourful light.
Images from the Minster and the city’s museums will also be projected on to the medieval architecture.
Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of Visit York, said: “Illuminating York is a fantastic opportunity to showcase York’s innovative and creative edge, set against the backdrop of the city’s stunning architecture.
“We’re delighted that this year the artists will be using imagery to reflect the spirit of Yorkshire and it’s fitting that the Minster’s Rose window will be the focus of this.”
During the festival, the area surrounding the Minster will offer visitors a trail of art and light and several of the city’s visitor attractions will also be hosting evening events.
There will also be a Creative York Symposium on October 27, organised by Science City York, which is aimed at industry professionals and will focus on digital and new technologies.
Illuminating York, which will run from 7pm to 10pm every evening, is supported by Visit York, City of York Council, The Arts Council England and Welcome to Yorkshire.
To find out more, log on to illuminatingyork.org.uk or phone Visit York’s information centre on 01904 550099.
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