Big bright night lights up Kirkholt

Heart art … a giant inflatable heart was the centrepiece of the event

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Kirkholt lit up with the arrival of ‘The Big Bright Night’ yesterday (Wednesday 16 March).
The family event featured live music and poetry, a lantern parade and a piece of giant public art.

Over recent few weeks, workshops in schools and community groups led by artists Irene Rogan and Josephine Gornall have created artwork that took centre stage at the event, together with dozens of star-shaped lanterns. Pupils also wrote their own poems about living in the area.

Pupils from Sandbrook Community Primary, St Mary’s CE Primary, the Kirkholt Drop-in Centre and Holy Family RC Primary joined in the lantern parade, accompanied by drummers.

The centrepiece of the Big Bright Night was a giant inflatable heart. Residents shared their thoughts and memories about their neighbourhood, thoughts which were then projected onto the heart.

The ‘Big Bright Night’ is the finale of The Big Plot project. Another artist, Irene Rogan brought together young people and the Vision for Kirkholt team to develop proposals for the site opposite The Strand ahead of developing new homes on the site.

Shonagh Ingram, participate arts co-ordinator said: "The Big Bright Night was a really exciting event that celebrated what people like about living on Kirkholt.

“Lots of people got involved and had a good time joining the parade and sharing their thoughts on the heart."

Arts Council England is funding the Big Plot as part of the pARTicipate programme, which is using art to support the regeneration of HMR neighbourhoods.