Success of Multi-Town Light Art Project Heralds New Era of Cultural Collaboration Across Fenland and West Suffolk, where communities gathered to experience their familiar surroundings in an extraordinary new light.
The innovative “Light Up The Town” project has successfully concluded after transforming seven market towns across West Suffolk and Fenland with spectacular illuminations that celebrated local heritage and brought communities together during the winter months.
The series of free light projection events, presented by MarketPlace, saw internationally acclaimed projection artists SDNA collaborate with local communities to create stunning displays that turned familiar buildings into vibrant canvases of light and sound. The project exceeded expectations, with over 1,500 visitors across all locations and overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees and participants alike.
Beginning in Brandon on February 25th and concluding in Whittlesey on March 7th, each event showcased bespoke projections featuring local flora and natural elements unique to each town. The projections, accompanied by ambient soundscapes, transformed town centres into welcoming social spaces where communities gathered to experience their familiar surroundings in an extraordinary new light.
Richard Alecock, Councillor for Mildenhall Great Heath says“What an incredible evening at St. Mary’s Church! For the first time in our 800-year history, the church was beautifully illuminated with stunning projected lighting displays. It was a breathtaking sight.”
Maddie Exton, Creative Producer at MarketPlace, reflected on the project’s impact: “We set out to bring light to the darker winter months through community-created art. Each town’s projection became a celebration of local identity, bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds. The feedback has been incredible, with many participants expressing a renewed sense of connection to their town’s natural heritage.”
The collaborative workshops led by SDNA with local groups proved particularly successful. Brandon Circle, Newmarket Community Art Group, and Teen Chill in Mildenhall were among the community organisations whose members contributed to the final artworks, creating authentic representations of each town’s character. Local gardening organisations, including Brandon in Bloom, Mildenhall in Bloom and Newmarket Community Nature Reserve, played a crucial role in the project’s success by providing rich images of local flora and fauna as part of the projections.
Laura, Newmarket Community Nature Reserve shared “Using our images made it so personal and we instantly connected to the moments the photos were taken.”
The Light Up The Town project not only illuminated historic buildings and public spaces but also highlighted the power of collaborative art in bringing communities together. By combining cutting-edge projection technology with local storytelling and natural imagery, MarketPlace has created a model of community engagement that celebrates local heritage and fosters social connection. The MarketPlace team is already planning for next year, with conversations underway to bring the Light Up The Town project back after this year’s tremendous success, bringing more spectacular illuminations to unite communities across the region.
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