The Weymouth Promenade Artistic Lighting Scheme is complete.
28 Computer-controlled LED strips have been installed along Weymouth promenade between the Pier Bandstand and the Pavilion. Testing of the Weymouth Promenade Artistic Lighting Scheme completed earlier this week and from 14 November, Weymouth bay will be lit up by a series of lighting programmes inspired by the local community.
The lighting artwork amplifies the natural rhythms of Weymouth; programmed using an astronomical clock, the lights will turn on for 30 minutes each day in time with the rising and setting of the sun. In the evening, the lights will remain on until 11:30 pm in the winter and 1 am in the summer, they will cycle through 10 unique active scenes that celebrate the elements and activities of Weymouth, with gentle ambient scenes in-between.
Now complete, Dorset Council will be gifting the lights to Weymouth Town Council who will be responsible for operating and maintaining the lights.
Jane Biscombe, Weymouth Town Council Clerk said: “The lights look fantastic in the tests and we’re very much looking forward to the lights becoming a key feature of our town. They’re a great, modern addition to the seafront and are truly unique to Weymouth.”
The Weymouth Promenade Artistic Lighting Scheme is part of Dorset Coastal Connections, a portfolio of 18 connected projects managed by the Dorset Coast Forum, which aim to improve physical, digital and emotional connections to the coast in Dorset, supporting and growing the local economy. The Dorset Coast Forum have engaged extensively with the Weymouth community to feed into the design brief which Bounce Back Arts, as local artistic lead, developed. Local stakeholder knowledge and community feedback have all been taken into account to help build the lighting design with designers Tonkin Liu. Dorset Coastal Connections is a partnership portfolio supported by the Coastal Communities Fund.
The project attracted highly skilled designers and lighting specialists that worked closely with the community, councillors and officers to design and install the new lighting scheme.
Peter Christie, Dorset Council Project Engineer, Assets & Property said: “The collaboration to deliver this partnership project has been fantastic. Following a comprehensive consultation period and development of twelve different lighting scenes designed by Tonkin Liu, Dorset Council and Town Council officers have been working with A.C. Special Projects and Intratest over the past eight weeks. Despite the recent weather challenges we’ve completed the project one week ahead of schedule – and on budget.”
Claudia Moore, Chief Operations Officer at Weymouth BID said: “We Are Weymouth are incredibly proud to have been part of the collaboration that has made this project happen. The designers’ work has been informed by the natural rhythms, heritage and culture of Weymouth and this beautiful and adaptable lighting scheme works well with the technical constraints that they faced.”
Nicky Whittenham, Founding Director for Bounce Back Arts said: “This is a significant project for Weymouth and an important milestone in an ongoing journey to enrich the cultural legacy of the town. As an exciting chapter in the ongoing story of the promenade’s lighting, Tonkin Liu’s scheme will serve to delight and entertain audiences, whilst celebrating the rich heritage of our prom in a simple and contemporary way. Bounce Back Arts is proud to have been involved in this successful collaboration with project partners and thrilled to have helped bring this important and unique public artwork to life. Night-time strolls along the sea front will once more be rich with magic and atmosphere!”
Mike Tonkin, Director for Tonkin Liu said: “As a child visiting Weymouth, the seafront was all about the activities and the weather. Tonkin Liu are delighted to be involved in the rejuvenation of Weymouth’s Promenade through the new lighting that celebrates and amplifies the people’s activities and the ever changing weather in the evening’s lighting with a series of scenes that tell stories about the people and place”
Chris Little, Project Manager for A.C Special Projects Limited said: “A.C. Special Projects is proud to be involved in helping to deliver the Weymouth Promenade Artistic Lighting Scheme. The aspirational scheme utilises lighting in an innovative and creative way which enhances the seafront experience for locals and visitors. At the same time, the discreet installation is respectful of the seafront’s heritage.”
Officers from Weymouth Town Council and Dorset Council are working together to arrange a celebratory event, to be held in December once the general election has taken place. More information will be shared in due course.
The final cost of the project is £265,000, with £200,000 of this provided through a Coastal Communities Fund original grant. Other contributors are Dorset Council (£50,000) and Dorset Coast Forum, Weymouth BID and Weymouth Town Council (£5,000 each).
