Grimsby's SEE THE LIGHT Festival Illuminates Minster with Nature-Themed Artworks
A spectacular array of innovative lightworks will transform Grimsby Minster and St James' Square during the weekend of April 17 to 19. These captivating installations complement Luke Jerram's awe-inspiring HELIOS artwork, all presented as part of North East Lincolnshire's ambitious Our Future Starts Here programme.
Free Environmental Art Experience
The SEE THE LIGHT festival consists of five remarkable installations and a groundbreaking dance performance from high-quality regional and national artists, all exploring nature and environmental themes. Audiences can enjoy this extraordinary artwork completely free of charge thanks to funding from National Lottery players. The event forms part of a comprehensive five-year partnership programme for the region designed to inspire meaningful change through creativity and artistic expression.
Featured Installations and Performances
More than Human: This evolving new concept by Tom Dale Company, The Light Surgeons, and Chronic Insanity Theatre promises an immersive 'soft-cinema lounge experience' combining stunning visuals and electronic sound across dual screens. Visitors are invited to lie back and look up, exploring intelligence as something shared across living systems including plants, animals, and entire ecosystems rather than something belonging exclusively to humans.
SURGE: OPEN AIR: Created by Tom Dale, Ital Tek, Jemima Brown, and Vent Media, this electrifying solo performance draws audiences close to the action. Fusing live vocals, mesmerising movement, and cutting-edge projection technology, this groundbreaking outdoor work consistently leaves audiences feeling they have 'never seen anything like it before'.
Sunshine on the Fallen Tree: A beautiful sound and light sculpture by Sheffield-based Pif-Paf created from Sheffield-sourced ash trees felled due to ash dieback disease. Visitors can walk through the branches and bathe in gentle light while experiencing a sound composition by Eleanor Hooper and Kate Griffin that takes listeners through 'sonic memories' of the tree. While the work reflects on the decline of the species, it also highlights recent scientific discoveries showing that many ash trees are fighting back, offering a powerful message of hope and resilience.
LIGHT / LEAVES: Created by Grimsby-based Let There Be Light Studio, these three large-scale sculptures representing Oak, Alder, and Ash trees draw attention to common British tree species that are often taken for granted but have become endangered due to human impact and environmental changes.
Migratory Light: Hosted inside the historic Minster, Chris McClean's original walk-through artwork transforms bird migration patterns into moving light displays. It traces the seasonal movements of birds passing through the region, translating flight paths into colourful streams of light. The installation features authentic field recordings of the Eurasian curlew by Merlyn Driver, creating a multisensory experience.
Resonant Pulse: A multi-channel sonic installation by Lucy Mager that brings the sounds of Cleethorpes beach to life through carefully arranged speakers creating an interactive, meditative environment. The commissions for both Migratory Light and Resonant Pulse were made possible through funding from Arts Council England's Place Partnership Fund and Create North East Lincolnshire as part of the 'Exploring Digital' programme.
Official Programme Launch
Charlotte Bowen, artistic director of The Culture House, expressed enthusiasm about the festival: 'We're very excited to be presenting a fantastic number of quality touring light installations with purpose and meaning in North East Lincolnshire, none of which have been seen in Grimsby before. The SEE THE LIGHT programme will help connect people to nature and environment themes, provoking reflection and thinking beyond our everyday human existence.'
The arrival of Luke Jerram's HELIOS artwork signals the official launch of the Our Future Starts Here programme. Supported by partner organisations and headline sponsor Ørsted, this marks the first time Helios - originally commissioned by The National Trust - has been exhibited in the North East of England. The internally lit artwork features detailed imagery of the Sun's surface accompanied by a surround-sound composition by Duncan Speakman and Sarah Anderson.
Bookings are now open for the exhibition, which runs through the Easter holidays and continues into May, including Bank Holiday Monday on May 4. The festival represents a significant cultural moment for Grimsby and North East Lincolnshire, bringing world-class environmental art to the heart of the community.
