Spectacular light show to round off St Helens 150th anniversary celebrations and Borough of Culture

A dazzling light projection made up of 200,000 lumens of light, 8 supersized projectors and over 100,000 images will bring the town hall to life on the 8th of December, rounding off the 150th anniversary celebrations and St Helens as Borough of Culture.

 

Created by artist Simon Mckeown with BuzzHub St Helens CDP and commissioned by Heart of Glass, as part of St Helens 150, in partnership with DaDaFest, it will offer the chance to see St Helens Town Hall like it’s never been seen before.

 

Using high tech projection mapping technology, the artwork called “We Are Still Here” – will transform the building’s Victorian facade, with a riot of colour, moving image and sound.

 

The piece has been inspired by St Helens’ past, present and future. Internationally renowned multi-media artist Simon McKeown has worked with BuzzHub St Helens Coalition of Disabled People over the past months to create the work which will feature their ideas and designs.

 

A FREE family friendly event aimed at all ages, We Are Still Here will culminate the 150 anniversary celebrations and St Helens as the Liverpool City Region’s Borough of Culture.

 

There will be a schools’ lanterns trail leading people from the town centre to the town hall. This has been created by local school children who have been working with Heart of Glass, as well as colourful street performers and festive food and drink.

 

Inside the town hall there will be an exhibition of work by the BuzzHub group and the screening of an animation about St Helens made by local community groups who have been working with animation studio Twin Vision. The animation follows the story of an imagination of a boy from St Helens as he reimagines his home town with amazing results!

 

Simon Mckeown is an award winning internationally exhibiting artist renowned for his work which touches on and considers disability as well as our digital futures.

 

BuzzHub St Helens CDP enables adults with support needs to lead happy, active and independent lives.

 

Patrick Fox, Heart of Glass said:

“We’re delighted to be hosting this event, bringing what has been a remarkable year of culture in St Helens to a close. Taking our iconic town hall as a canvas, and working with Simon Mckeown and his collaborators has been a real treat, and we’re excited to share the outcome in what we hope will be a colourful, thoughtful and awe inspiring experience. We’re also thrilled to be partnering with DaDa Fest and a range of partners on the wider wrap around programme, placing the politics of disability front and centre. While this project will close 2018, it will be a springboard into future projects and collaboration, with art and artists in collaboration with communities playing a pivotal role in the shaping the future of our borough.”

 

Artist Simon McKeown said:

“Working with Buzz Hub on this outdoor light show has been a privilege.  They are a fantastically strong creative team and they worked hard with me to achieve the work we will see. Outdoor events on this scale are rare and exciting and the support of St Helens Council has been vital. Heart of Glass as the organisers are forward thinking, situating collaborative art and disability together into one massive event. This is going to be state of the art in so many ways!”

 

Councillor Gill Neal, St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Better Health and Building Arts & Culture, said:
“We Are Still Here will literally shine a light on all things St Helens and is an event I’m very much looking forward to.

 

“Our St Helens 150 programme has been a whirlwind from start to finish which has seen thousands upon thousands of people from inside and outside the borough come together to enjoy a variety of fantastic events – and We Are Still Here will be no different.

 

“Come and join us in Victoria Square on Saturday 8 December for an evening of entertainment which promises to be a memorable occasion for the borough.”