What's On
Oxford Road to be lit up with stunning Blackpool Illuminations-style light display
The Corridor of Light has been created to celebrate the area and all those who live and work there
Manchester’s Oxford Road will be lit up by a new Blackpool Illuminations-style arts and entertainment project next month.
The Corridor of Light will use ‘a plethora of brand new visual arts commissions, installations and live entertainment’ to transform the buildings, streets and parks down the busy street known as the ‘Oxford Road Corridor’.
Installations will include a fire garden of sculptures, a giant heart-shaped glitter ball and a neon display suspended above street level. Neighbourhood Circle Square will also be bathed in thousands of spots of light, emanating from Studio Vertigo’s heart-shaped mirror ball installation, ‘Our Beating Heart’.
Mikal Ludlow
Over at the Booth Street East bridge, renowned artist Tim Etchells will also be unveiling a world premiere display while a huge immersive light and sound installation will be in place at the Holy Name Church, with artist collective Squidsoup helping the building to celebrate its 150th anniversary.
New video ‘Move Fast and Brake Things’ by Antonio Roberts will be projected onto the round structure of University Place, using the building’s curved surface as a massive canvas.
The windows of Contact Theatre – which has recently reopened following a massive £6M transformation – will be lit up with images of Manchester artist and theatre-maker Chanje Kunda.
As well as light installations, poets, writers and performers will also be creating work to display across the event.
Studio Vertigo
Maria Bota, artistic director of Corridor of Light, said on the unique event: “Oxford Road Corridor is a brilliant canvas for Corridor of Light. We invite you to regather, share in the stories of today, and celebrate the stories of the past as well as the difference those who dwell, study and work here are making to our futures, in this celebration of language in its many forms through music, light and ideas.”
The Corridor of Light will run between Thursday October 21st and Saturday the 23rd, and will be completely free to attend.
For more information, visit the official Oxford Road Corridor website here.