Colour & Light, the high impact and large-scale visual arts project brought to the city by York BID, launched in 2023 in partnership with York Minster and returned in 2024 in partnership with York Museums Trust.
The project involves projecting a 10-minute animated display onto the outside of York’s most loved buildings, using the latest innovations in projection mapping to deliver an impactful and captivating display. The projection plays every 10 minutes between 6 and 9pm to support the early evening economy and enhance York’s cultural offering.
“Colour & Light brings in much-needed footfall and a boost to the winter economy when businesses need it most.” Said Carl Alsop, Operations Manager at York BID, “The public response has been incredible, and we really hope to be able to bring this world-class event back to York.”
York BID are currently exploring locations for the 2025 event, and are inviting businesses of all sizes to join the project as funding partners. The financial support will ensure that next year’s project can go ahead, which has become a highly anticipated event in the York calendar.
Rachel Bean, Project Manager at York BID, said:
‘Colour & Light is a spectacular event that brings York’s built heritage together with the city’s UNESCO City of Media Arts designation. With business support, we hope to continue to deliver this accessible and family-friendly experience that excites, engages and inspires. Unfortunately, Colour & Light 2025 will not happen without the support of funders.’
The last two events have attracted over 80,000 viewers and have added an estimated £1 million to the local economy. Colour & Light 2025 promises to continue this trend, with increased visitor numbers, enhanced economic activity, and a boost to civic pride. The hope is that the project will have a lasting impact on viewers, broadening people’s perceptions of York as a dynamic, exciting and creative city.
The project also offers businesses a brilliant return on investment through an unparalleled opportunity to expose brands to large local, regional and national audiences, promoting organisations to thousands of potential new customers; and the opportunity to align brands to a much-loved and world-class city centre improvement initiative.
For more information, please visit the dedicated funding partnership webpage > https://www.theyorkbid.com/colour-and-light-funding-partnership/
If you are interested in becoming a funding partner for this project, please contact info@theyorkbid.com or call the York BID team on 01904 809970.
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