Meet The Man Behind Harrogate’s Major New Light Festival
The brainchild behind Beam, Harrogate’s exciting new light festival, hopes visitors to the spa town will be “wowed” when the lights go on later this month.
James Bawn, creative director at Leeds-based Element 3 Design, was commissioned by Harrogate International Festivals to design a new light trail for the town.
This major festival, which takes place on March 15 and 16, will use lighting beams, projections and soundscapes to transform 10 popular landmarks across the town centre.
Bawn, who worked on Harrogate 1571 celebrating the town’s spa heritage back in 2019 as part of the cultural delivery for the UCI World Cycling Championships, believes this latest project is unlike anything seen in Harrogate before.
He said: “Harrogate is a very special place with such a rich history and it has been a real joy and a privilege to work on this project.
“If you’re a Michelin starred chef you choose the finest ingredients and I’ve been lucky in the sense that the raw materials for a lighting designer like me are already here – iconic buildings, jaw-dropping architecture and beautiful landscapes – I’ve just added a few different touches to help illuminate the stories behind them.”
Bawn, who grew up in Huddersfield and has more than 20 years’ experience working on arts festivals, music tours, live events and architectural installations, added: “There’s something for all ages and some real ‘wow’ moments, and I hope everyone enjoys seeing the town in a whole new light, if you’ll pardon the pun.”
The festival, which is free for everyone, is produced by Harrogate International Festivals and supported by the Festival’s Future 50 fund, North Yorkshire Council, Visit North Yorkshire and Harrogate Business Improvement District (BID).
Sharon Canavar, chief executive at Harrogate International Festivals, said: “This is one of our most ambitious and exciting projects to date.
“We passionately believe not only in our wonderful town but also in the importance of free, public arts and culture events and their ability to bring people together. They enrich our lives and we would be poorer without them, which is why I would like to thank our partners – Future 50, North Yorkshire Council, Visit North Yorkshire and Harrogate Business Improvement District (BID) – for their support in helping make this exciting project a reality.
“I would also like to thank James and his amazing team for designing these brilliant light installations and what I have no doubt will be a couple of truly memorable evenings.”
Beam takes place in Harrogate town centre on March 15 and 16 (dusk to 10pm). For more information visit the Harrogate International Festivals website at www.harrogateinternationalfestivals.com
About Harrogate International Festivals
Harrogate International Festivals is a charitable organisation with a mission to present a diverse year-long programme of live events that bring immersive and moving cultural experiences to as many people as possible. Delivering artistic work of national importance, the Festival curates and produces over 300 unique and surprising performances each year, celebrating world-renowned artists and championing new and up-coming talent across music, literature, science, philosophy and psychology. The HIF+ ongoing education outreach programme engages schools, young people and the local community with workshops, talks, projects and inspiring activities, ensuring everyone can experience the Festival’s world class programme and the transformative power of the arts. Established in 1966, Harrogate International Festivals is an artistic force to be reckoned with and a key cultural provider for the North of England.
Find out more at:
Facebook: @HarrogateInternationalFestivals
Twitter @HarrogateFest
Instagram: @harrogatefestivals
