Poole lights up

From 15 to 17 February the town centre after dark will provide the dramatic backdrop to a series of light art and digital installations designed to inspire and enchant.

International and local artists, many of them working in collaboration with Poole schools and arts organisations, have been given a platform to showcase their work in a celebration of Poole’s cultural diversity, rich heritage and unique location.

Light Up Poole will see the town centre divided into 11 zones. Among the displays on offer are Submergence – an immersive walk-through experience created by Squidsoup, an international group of artists, researchers, technologists and designers. The Squirrel – a digital art installation by Sober Industries will highlight the extinction plight of Brownsea Island’s famous colony of red squirrels. Arbour – a new work by multi-media artist Mark Parry works with light, film, digital video and photography to convey meaning through evocative and emotive imagery and sound.

Amuzo, the Bournemouth-based team of game and App developers will launch their new smartphone game, Flo, at the event.

Sounds of Poole is a learning project focussed on music technology tht is also showcased.

Earlier, ArtfulScribe poetry agency is running a film poetry weekend workshop at Poole Museum on 13 and 14 January with photographic artist Helen Dewbery and poet and filmmaker Chaucer Cameron.

Working in partnership with Lighthouse and Bournemouth University, Light Up Poole also has a weekend of workshops on 27 and 28 January aimed at young people aged 16-21 who want to sharpen their vlog-making skills.

Poets and filmmakers are being invited to enter the Film Poetry competition with £500 for the winning title and the shortlisted films projected on the wall of Poole Museum.

The event also includes Projection Mapping, Projection Bombing – Bournemouth University alumni Ashley Wilkie uses spatial augmented reality technology to turn buildings, objects even whole landscapes into display surfaces for his digital art and light graffiti laser tags.

Light Up Poole is presented by Audacious community interest company with the support of lead partner and sponsor Poole BID and Arts Council England, in partnership with Lighthouse, Poole, Bournemouth University, the Borough of Poole, Poole Museum, Quays Culture, Arts University Bournemouth, SoundStorm music education agency and ArtfulScribe.