Beaming art into Castle Park this winter

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Image: Beam light installation at Castle Bridge Bristol © Andre Pattenden

An ambitious new artwork designed by Bristol-based creatives PYTCH will be showing at Bristol Light Festival 2023, launching this Friday 3 February. Located at Castle Bridge, Beam will use lasers and haze to create a beautiful, ever-changing light sculpture.

About Beam light installation

Creative Director at PYTCH and UWE Bristol Creative Media Design alum Tom Benoy is leading on the project.

“The aim of the piece is to create a feeling of euphoria. Using lasers on this scale in a public space has allowed us to expand the dimensions of our work and try something new and exciting,”

he explains.
Tom Benoy working in PYTCH studio

Visitors can become fully immersed as they cross the bridge, enveloped in haze whilst looking up at the lasers crossing in the air above. Ambient music forms part of the experience. View it from afar too and enjoy Bristol’s floating harbour illuminated and the impressive lasers meeting and crossing in the air above the bridge.

Beam, PYTCH (artistic impression)

 “We were keen to do something to help our fantastic city, and we’re always looking for new creative challenges,”

Tom said.

The festival showcases a collection of local, national and internationally renowned light artists.  As well as bolstering Bristol’s creative reputation, this winter event helps the city to have a positive start to the new year.

Ophelia, Studio McGuire
Scream the House Down: Bristol, Marcus Lyall
Trumpet Flowers, Amigo & Amigo
Halo, illumaphonium

More about Bristol Light Festival

Bristol Light Festival is organised by Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District (BID), a not-for-profit organisation working to make Bristol an even better place to live, work, study and spend leisure time.

Head of Bristol City Centre BID, Vicky Lee, said

“We are thrilled to have such a fantastic line up this year. The event embodies everything that Bristol represents and highlights it as the vibrant, playful and creative city that we know and love.”

Brighten up your cold winter evening with a light and colour-filled walk through Bristol Light Festival, on for 10 days from Friday 3 – Sunday 12 February. Across the evenings from 15:00 – 22:00, the 11 installations will shine a light in a few unexpected places as well as illuminating some of Bristol’s most iconic landmarks across the city, creating a free trail through the city’s centre.

For a full list of installations, maps and details visit www.bristollightfestival.org

Bristol Light Festival is presented by Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) supported by Redcliffe & Temple BID and Broadmead BID. The festival is also supported by Cabot Circus, Bristol’s City Centre & High Streets Recovery and Renewal programme, which is funded by Bristol City Council and the West of England’s Combined Authority’s Love our High Streets project, with the aim of supporting the recovery of Bristol’s priority high streets. The festival is curated by creative director Katherine Jewkes.

NOTES:

PYTCH are a creative events production service based in Bristol with a forward-thinking ethos. They have produced over 4000 live events from conferences to awards shows, product launches to exhibitions and one-off experiential events. The company regularly employs UWE Bristol graduates and has close links to our audio technology Audio and Music Technology and Creative Music Technology courses, hosting placements and visits.

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King Charles’ first New Year Honours list features UWE Bristol alumni

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Some of our inspiring alumni have been recognised in the King’s first issue of the New Year Honours list and we couldn’t be prouder.

Take a moment to celebrate with us the hard work and dedication of these members of the UWE Bristol community.

John Akomfrah CBE

John Akomfrah CBE (Honorary Graduate) received a knighthood for services to the Arts. John is a widely respected artist and filmmaker, whose work explores memory, post-colonialism, and the experiences of migrant diasporas globally. His show, Mimesis: African Soldier is sponsored by UWE Bristol and is on at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery until 8 January 2023.

Siân Griffiths OBE

Siân Griffiths OBE (Honorary Graduate) received a CBE for voluntary and charitable services, particularly during Covid-19. Deputy Chair of Gamble Aware, and Chair of both the Global Health Committee and Public Health England, Siân is an expert on global public health. She was active during the pandemic on local and national media as well as volunteering in the community.

Nicole Sapstead

Nicole Sapstead (LLB(Hons) Law) received an OBE for her services to sport.  As Chief Executive Officer of UK Anti-Doping, Nicole delivered significant developments in the mission to protect the right to enjoy doping-free sport. Nicole is now Senior Director Anti-Doping at the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).

Nolan Smith

Nolan Smith (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants Stage 2) received an OBE for services to Higher Education. Nolan is currently the Director of Resources and Finance at Office for Students.

Dr Edson Burton

Dr Edson Burton (Doctor of Philosophy – History, Church, Race and Social Inclusion) received an MBE for services to the Arts and to the community in Easton, Bristol. A writer, academic and curator, Edson has written for radio and theatre and is currently the Heritage and Engagement Curator at Trinity Centre, having led a fundraising appeal to save the centre in 2018.

Nura Aabe

Nura Aabe (BA(Hons) Early Childhood Studies) was awarded a BEM for services to people with autism. Nura founded Bristol charity Autism Independence and has raised awareness of the condition in the Somali community as well as campaigning for better support for all children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

Note:

Please let us know if we’ve missed someone who has been recognised in the 2023 New Year Honours list and is a UWE Bristol alum or member of staff. Email the team on alumni@uwe.ac.uk

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UWE Bristol Alumni homepage

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Support UWE Bristol Fund

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