Join us under the lights
Illuminate will be a two week long experience this year – meaning we can reach more people across Plymouth, the south west, and beyond.
Each night’s experiences start from 5:30pm – at Ocean Studios in Royal William Yard and at various start times at the newly refurbished Market Hall in Devonport.
During the two weeks of Illuminate Light Festival, each venue will offer a variety of work for everyone to enjoy, this programme page is here to help you plan your visit and find out more about the incredible array of artwork waiting for you at this year’s festival.
Artworks at Illuminate
Explore Ocean Studios – from Illumaphonium a dynamic and interactive, multi-sensory music making installation that is the first-of-its-kind to Squidsoup’s SOLA, a monumental wall of artificial sunlight to brighten your day, through to Re-wilding a visual rendering of an alternative future if we returned buildings to nature by Florian Guibert.
Plus so much more…
Saturday 27th November
Mini Makers | 10:00-12:00 | Ocean Studios
Bring your family and little ones along for a creative session with oodles of fun! This November, Mini Makers is linking up with Illuminate Light Festival to bring creativity sessions themed around the climate crisis. Learn what we can do to create change for our environment whilst getting creative and having fun at the same time!
Fluorescent plastics workshop led by Precious Plastics | Various start times from 16:00 | Ocean Studios (Jewellery Studio)
This event entitles the ticket holder to general admission to enjoy the light artworks at Ocean Studios.
Made from the offcuts of lorry wheel nut indicators, you will learn how to shred waste plastic and use a low-tech injection moulder to make your very own designer soap dish or pot, plus some beautiful buttons to take home. Environmentally friendly, made in Plymouth, bright and beautiful! Sessions are an hour long and can be enjoyed by a maximum group of 4 people per session.
Bioluminescent print workshop led by Beth Munro | Various start times from 16:00 | Ocean Studios (Print Studio)
This event entitles the ticket holder to general admission to enjoy the light artworks at Ocean Studios.
Learn the art of printing and marbling with fluorescent inks, cyanotype prints and other techniques in this hands-on 30 minute workshop.
Led by expert print maker Beth Munro, explore and respond to satellite images of bioluminescent activity in the earth’s oceans throughout your creation.
Illuminate Light Festival at Ocean Studios | Free event | Daily from 17:30 | Ocean Studios
Bioluminescent algae, projected realities, and immersive environments like no other.
Gather with us at Ocean Studios to explore pieces by over 10 different creatives as they take over our courtyard, café and events space with unusual and illuminating artworks to change your perspective and delight guests of all ages.
Illuminate presents: Light Organ – MUSICANA | 18:30 | Ocean Studios (Event Space)
This event entitles the ticket holder to general admission to enjoy the light artworks at Ocean Studios.
Light Organ is an interactive live performance piece that turns soundwaves into colourful beams of light! The sound created by performers will be presented on a giant Audio Spectrum Analyser, showing the audience how the acoustic energy is distributed across the audio frequency spectrum. The multi-channel loudspeaker will enable you to hear live music in a totally immersive way.
The line up:
18:30 – 3’s Company
19:30 – GraceLightman
20:30 – The Spindle Ensemble
Book now
Sunday 28th November
Mini Makers | 10:00-12:00 | Ocean Studios
Bring your family and little ones along for a creative session with oodles of fun! This November, Mini Makers is linking up with Illuminate Light Festival to bring creativity sessions themed around the climate crisis. Learn what we can do to create change for our environment whilst getting creative and having fun at the same time!
Fluorescent plastics workshop led by Precious Plastics | various start times from 16:00 | Ocean Studios (Jewellery Studio)
This event entitles the ticket holder to general admission to enjoy the light artworks at Ocean Studios.
Made from the offcuts of lorry wheel nut indicators, you will learn how to shred waste plastic and use a low-tech injection moulder to make your very own designer soap dish or pot, plus some beautiful buttons to take home. Environmentally friendly, made in Plymouth, bright and beautiful! Sessions are an hour long and can be enjoyed by a maximum group of 4 people per session.
Bioluminescent print workshop led by Beth Munro | Various start times from 16:00 | Ocean Studios (Print Studio)
This event entitles the ticket holder to general admission to enjoy the light artworks at Ocean Studios.
Learn the art of printing and marbling with fluorescent inks, cyanotype prints and other techniques in this hands-on 30 minute workshop.
Led by expert print maker Beth Munro, explore and respond to satellite images of bioluminescent activity in the earth’s oceans throughout your creation.
Illuminate Light Festival at Ocean Studios | Free event | Daily from 17:30 | Ocean Studios
Bioluminescent algae, projected realities, and immersive environments like no other.
Gather with us at Ocean Studios to explore pieces by over 10 different creatives as they take over our courtyard, café and events space with unusual and illuminating artworks to change your perspective and delight guests of all ages.
This activity is part of the iMayflower project and has been supported by The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, who fund the Cultural Development Fund, which is administered by Arts Council England