A festival that brought thousands of people to a Weston-super-Mare park in February is set to return in 2023.
GLOW Festival will light up the town with a dazzling array of illuminated artworks and performances between February 15 and 18, 2023.
The festival will be based in Grove Park. Other attractions will be found at popular town centre locations including The Grand Pier and Princess Royal Square.
The expanded programme has been funded by Arts Council England, the National Lottery Community Fund and Weston-super-Mare Town Council.
GLOW was conceived and designed by Paula Birtwistle, a Weston-based artist and producer. It is presented in partnership with Culture Weston and the town council.
The sustainably-produced event will celebrate nature and the environment.
Paula said: “We’re so excited to build on the success of last year’s event with a four-day light festival.
“GLOW 2023 will transform familiar public spaces with spectacular, site-specific light and sound installations, projection mapping and live performance.
“Through new, diverse artwork commissions and community projects, the emphasis is on co-creation and bringing local people, their ideas and stories into the heart of the festival.
“Over the winter months, more than a hundred local people will be working alongside artists to dream up this magical experience.
“This year, thanks to generous funding support from Arts Council England, we are delighted to be able to expand the festival from Grove Park into other areas of the town, enabling more people than ever to enjoy this celebration of the town.”
Malcolm Nicholson, Weston town clerk, said: “GLOW is fast becoming a flagship event in Weston’s annual cultural calendar.
“It showcases our town’s cultural and artistic ambition with a unique mix of locally created activities alongside stunning national artworks.”
Installations will include illumaphonium's HALO, Felix Rowberry's Fire Garden and Paula's Swing playground and Disco.
Sprout Café will serve food and drink and the Culture Weston bar will offer warming mulled wine and cider.
Residents and visitors will be able to enter GLOW between 6pm and 9pm with advance booking and ‘pay what you decide’ tickets allocated in time slots.
The additional light installations around the town are free for everyone to enjoy.
To see the line-up and purchase advance tickets, visit cultureweston.org.uk/listings/glow23.
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