ONE of the biggest arts events in York will return next month.

The eleventh Illuminating York, supported by Arts Council England, runs between October 26 and 29, and will include seven newly-commissioned artworks around the city’s streets.

York St John University, the National Railway Museum, Goodramgate’s Holy Trinity Church, Shambles and King’s Square will feature specially-designed light shows, while fringe events will include a bunny light trail - with 50 customised bunny lights around the city.

Highlights will also include Jason Bruges Studio’s work at York Minster - the festival’s only event to charge for entry - which will use white lights and particles in the air to see “spectacular choreographed spaces carved out of light”.

Admission costs £8 for adults and £3.50 for children, and tickets are available from York Theatre Royal and York Minster box offices.

Hazel Colquhoun, one of illuminating York’s curators, said this year’s event would “take visitors on an exploration of the city after dark”.

She said: “Key venues are hosting our newly commissioned artworks, three architectural lighting schemes around the city in partnership with the Society of Light and Lighting, and there will be illuminated bunnies in 50 shop and business windows throughout the city centre in our own Pokémon style trail.

“We’re being joined in the ‘fringe events’ this year by other venues opening late on specific nights with illumination-themed events and activities, from Fairfax House and The Bar Convent Living Heritage Centre to night time opening of the City Walls so that people can return for two or more nights for a different illuminating York experience.”

There will also be candlelit tours of Fairfax House to Gregorian Latin Chant with ‘Illuminations by Visions of York’ in All Saints North Street Church.

Kate McMullen from Make It York said: “What’s unique about York’s festival is that the artists have spent time in the city and the different venues to create artworks that are designed specifically around these individual and historic York locations.”

For more details, visit illuminatingyork.org.uk

Here is how the organisers describe the various events

York Minster – Jason Bruges Studio

After a triumph lighting The Shard in London on New Year’s Eve, Jason Bruges Studio will become ‘light masons’ within the cavernous nave of York’s gothic cathedral.  Using only white light and particulate suspended in the air, visitors will experience spectacular choreographed spaces carved out of light.  This is the only paid-for commission, with standard admission prices of £8 for adults and £3.50 for children, which also includes admission to the East End exhibition and Chapter House.  Each ticket is allocated a time slot and family ticket deals are available.  Tickets are available from York Theatre Royal and York Minster box offices.  Early bird discounts are also available until 9 October, priced at £6 and £3.  Family tickets are also available.

York St John University – David Ogle’s ‘Lumen’

A new venue for illuminating York, the historic quad at York St John’s Lord Mayor’s Walk campus will be occupied by a forest of light.  Visitors can walk amongst skeletal coloured luminescent trees, to experience the unusual light and shade cast by their glowing branches, with further exhibitions and performances by York St John Students to discover around the campus.  Free.

National Railway Museum (NRM) – Heinrich and Palmer

Pioneers of large-scale illuminated art, Heinrich and Palmer turn their attention to the Workshop at NRM, creating an experience that brings together projection, light drawings, film and sound in the working heart of the museum, where engines are maintained and restored.  Visitors will also see the return of Locos in a Different Light, at the NRM, where the halls and locomotives are transformed with colour and light by theatre lighting design students.  Free. 

Holy Trinity Church, Goodramgate – Helen Maurer

Secrets in the stained glass inspire the displays inside this historic building as Helen Maurer creates a compelling installation using light, glass and mirrors to project shape and colour onto the walls and ceiling.  Free.

Shambles – ‘Orbit’ by Studio PSK

Regularly voted one of Britain’s most picturesque streets, Studio PSK has designed ‘Orbit’ which will be installed along the entire length of the world-famous Shambles.  Arcs of light will revolve above the heads of the visitors encircling views of the iconic street, prompting them to look up from the historic street. Free.

King’s Square – ‘Loopy Lou’ by Rémi Brun

“Loupy Lou” presents a skipping figure, whose movements are created by just a few LED lights. In daylight, Brun’s sculpture looks like an abstract wire construction, but after dark, the LED lights that dance around create a depiction of a skipping girl, based on the artist’s daughter playing. Remi Brun lives and works in Paris and this is the first time his work has been shown in a UK light festival. Free.

Society of Light & Lighting Projects – various locations

The Society of Light & Lighting– the top industry body for those working in the lighting sector – will be working with schools around York to create lighting schemes for three venues, including parts of the city walls and St Michael-le-Belfry.  Free.

Bunny Light Trail – various locations between the major installations

Making a return after its debut last year will be the popular Bunny Light Trail, in collaboration with York contemporary design store Snow Home, where 50 bunny lights customised by artists and creatives will be placed in shop and business windows across the city centre.