The enchanting setting of the Roman Baths is to be bathed in a host of different coloured lights as part of the Illuminate Bath 2012 festival later this month.
Courtesy of Edward Lockyer
One of the highlights of the festival will be a new light installation called Frequency, which has been created for the Roman Baths by Bath Spa University graduates Alexander Cotterell, Will Kendrick, Tom Newell and Ollie Davies.
This new work will transform Bath’s famous landmark for two nights into a colour-filled oasis as the steam rises from the Great Bath into the cold January air. The balcony area of the baths will open for audiences to view the projected experience for free on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 January 2012, from 5pm to 8pm, with access from Kingston Parade.
Councillor Cherry Beath (Lib-Dem, Combe Down), the Council’s Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, said: “Bath & North East Somerset Council is proud to support this innovative project which will look breath-taking against the magnificent backdrop of its Roman Baths. We look forward to welcoming visitors from near and far to experience the magnificence of the Great Bath in a whole new light.“
Following on from a successful first festival last November, Illuminate Bath returns, from Wednesday 25 to Saturday 28 January, bringing beautiful and engaging projected artworks to the city centre. Banishing the gloom of January’s long evenings, this ‘festival of light’ will include seven original installations in public spaces, all of which will be completely free for the public to explore.
Illuminate Bath is organised by Bath Spa University and RELAYS, a London 2012 legacy project based in universities across the south west of England that aims to inspire young people to volunteer, try new sports and be creative.
Leanne Dingle, RELAYS Project Director, said: “This event marks the start of the RELAYS 2012 celebration programme that will run across the south west during the Olympic Games year. As part of the Cultural Olympiad, Illuminate Bath will be one of the first festivals in the region inspiring people to engage with the arts.“
RELAYS is funded by Legacy Trust UK, an independent charity set up to create a cultural and sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games across the UK.
The first Illuminate Bath festival took place in November 2010 and was attended by more than 40,000 people.
The art works will be available to explore every evening from 25-28 January, between 5pm and 8pm. Please visit the website http://www.illuminatebath.org for more information on the festival.
For more information about Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Roman Baths visit http://www.romanbaths.co.uk or call 01225 477774.
