Spectacular light show brings anniversary celebrations to a dramatic finale

A Teesside University artist and academic was behind a stunning art show which showed an iconic building in a whole new light.

The dazzling light projection was made up of 200,000 lumens of light, eight supersized projectors and over 100,000 images which were displayed on St Helens Town Hall , rounding off the 150th anniversary celebrations and St Helens as Borough of Culture.

It was created by Simon McKeown, a Reader in Teesside University’s School of Computing, Media & the Arts, along with with BuzzHub St Helens CDP and commissioned by Heart of Glass.

Using high tech projection mapping technology, the artwork called 'We Are Still Here' - transformed the building’s Victorian facade, with colour, moving image and sound.

The piece was inspired by St Helens’ past, present and future. Internationally renowned multi-media artist Simon McKeown worked with BuzzHub St Helens Coalition of Disabled People over several months to create the work which featured their ideas and designs.

Heart of Glass have been working in partnership with DaDaFest, a leading disability and arts organisation based in Liverpool. 'We Are Still Here' was presented as part of DaDaFest International and marked the final day of the Merseyside wide festival.

Simon, who has exhibited all over the world and whose work touches on and considers disability, said: 'Working with BuzzHub on this outdoor light show has been a privilege. They are a fantastically strong creative team and they worked hard with me to achieve the work which was displayed.

'Outdoor events on this scale are rare and exciting and the support of St Helens Council has been vital. Heart of Glass as the organisers are forward thinking, situating collaborative art and disability together into one massive event. This was state of the art in so many ways.'

Patrick Fox, from Heart of Glass, added: 'We were delighted to host this event, bringing what has been a remarkable year of culture in St Helens to a close. Taking our iconic town hall as a canvas, and working with Simon Mckeown and his collaborators has been a real treat, and we were excited to share the outcome in what was truly a colourful, thoughtful and awe inspiring experience.

'We were also thrilled to be partnering with DaDa Fest and a range of partners on the wider wrap around programme, placing the politics of disability front and centre. While this project closed 2018, it will be a springboard into future projects and collaboration, with art and artists in collaboration with communities playing a pivotal role in the shaping the future of our borough.'

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• Disability
• digital
• art