(Above) Vespertine, a sound and video installation which will climb the Tudor walls of the ruined St Mary's Abbey
Festival: Illuminating York, various locations, York October 23 – November 1 2009
As the autumn nights finally begin to close in, the people of York are about to be treated to a splash of colour that promises to light up the city's historic landmarks with a procession of digital art.
Illuminating York is a striking collection of light and sound installations which use the façades of some of the city's many ancient structures as giant canvasses.
Organisers say this year's festival promises the most spectacular mix of contemporary projections seen in the city so far, offering a unique and atmospheric experience featuring everything from nature inspired light-landscapes to interactive installations encouraging audiences to become artists.
King's Manor will be transformed during Illuminating York
"This year our artists have risen to the challenge of engaging more than ever with the public," said Stephen Purcell, Chair of Illuminating York and Dean of the Faculty of Arts at York St John University.
"People will be able to quite literally draw with light, and this means no two nights will be exactly the same. We hope audiences will come back time and again to see how the artworks change throughout the festival."
Headline pieces include Vespertine, a pervasive sound and video installation which will creep over the Kings Manor and Museum Gardens before climbing the Tudor walls of the ruined St Mary's Abbey to illustrate the beautiful relationship between predators and their prey.
St Sampson's Square will host the Cultural Olympiad-selected project 5Circles, a series of interactive games and public art installations including a projector which reacts to the movement of the people within the space.
5Circles includes a projector reacting to movement
At the city's Multiangular Tower, another sound and light installation called Walls of Light will be giving visitors the chance to draw with light via an interactive drawing board projected onto the Tower's walls.
Professional artists will also be remotely creating inspirational visions on the Tower from across the world at specific times throughout the festival.
"Each year art lovers from around the country are drawn in to feast their eyes on the spectacle the festival creates, and last year brought in the largest amount of visitors yet, reaching just under 30,000 people," said Gillian Cruddas, Chief Executive of Visit York.
Established as a flagship event in Yorkshire's festival calendar, Illuminating York is supported by Visit York, Welcome to Yorkshire, Arts Council England and City of York Council.
For more information, see Visit York online or the festival website.
