THOUSANDS GATHER TO SEE LONGBRIDGE IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT

More than 5,000 people descended on Longbridge town centre on Saturday for the annual Longbridge Light Festival.

Light, art and cutting edge technology were used to create the spectacular event entitled Back to the Future, which celebrated the amazing history of Longbridge and its bright future.

Artists from across the region, UK and Europe helped deliver the jam packed evening of sci-fi themed activities and installations including a lantern parade, window dressing competition, artworks, films and alien face painting.

People learned how to dress up their bikes, make sci-fi costumes and create futuristic effects and animations at workshops throughout the evening. Shops stayed open late to take part in the activities and benefit from the visiting crowds.

Longbridge Light Festival organisers WERK and Bourvnille College and Longbridge town centre owner St. Modwen have hailed the event as a brilliant success.

Mike Murray, senior development surveyor at St. Modwen said: “It was fantastic to see Longbridge town centre taken over by thousands of people enjoying the lights and art.

“The Light Festival successfully fulfilled its aim of bringing culture to the community – with local pupils, Bournville College students, residents and businesses all taking part.

“I would like to thank everyone who helped make the event such a roaring success and am already looking forward to Longbridge Light Festival 2015.”

Longbridge Light Festival kicked off on Friday with the Tran-si-tion International Conference at Bournville College, which highlighted best practice within regeneration schemes, urban design, strategic planning, placemaking and art within a social urban context. It was headlined by world-famous artist Daan Roosegaarde, with other speakers including Jean Francois Zurawik, Director of Fête des Lumières in Lyon; Mike Murray of St. Modwen, Glenn Howells, Director at Glenn Howells Architect and Michael Artz, Director and Programme Curator at Halle 14, Helen Marriage, Director at Artichoke and Nigel Edmondson, former City Design Manager at Birmingham City Council.

For more information on Longbridge Light festival visit: www.longbridgelightfestival.co.uk