Tauranga Set To Become An Illuminated Playground
Tauranga’s city centre is set to be transformed into an illuminated spectacle with an all-new light festival set to launch next year. ‘After Dark Urban Light Festival’ will light up Tauranga’s CBD for 10 days in May 2022 as buildings, alleyways and public spaces become canvases for incredible imagery that will showcase the city in a new light.
Spearheaded by Creative Bay of Plenty, ‘After Dark’ will see ordinary buildings and structures across the city transformed into extraordinary visual masterpieces through the use of high-tech projection mapping and other digital technologies. The festival will also reinvent public spaces with lighting installations, short films, interactive components and standalone artworks.
Mainstreet Tauranga spokesperson Sally Cooke says the festival has the potential to deliver substantial outcomes to the city centre. “Mainstreet Tauranga is excited and privileged to be partnering with Creative Bay of Plenty on this dynamic event that not only showcases several of our local artists through light, art and technology, but will also have a flow on effect for our hospitality sector as people come in to experience the festival and stay for drinks and dinner in the city with friends and family.”
After Dark is possible thanks to funding from Creative New Zealand along with operational support from local organisations such as Downtown Tauranga, Te Tuhi Mareikura Trust, and Knock Knock Events. The festival will also work with Tauranga-based artists, businesses, schools, tertiary providers and creative groups to give the event a distinctly local flavour.
Arpége Taratoa of Te Tuhi Mareikura Trust says After Dark is an opportunity for the arts community to ignite the city and showcase the range of artists that we have here in the Bay of Plenty. “With a broad theme of connection (specifically nature, culture and people), there’s a real opportunity here to bring about a sense of togetherness, despite the growing lack of connection that we are experiencing today. This is the power of art, providing dialogue on current or past issues, in a beautifully enriching way. The past year has been heavy and dark, so I am excited to see Tauranga Artists and beyond, enlightening us with illuminating pieces of artwork.”
Creative Bay of Plenty chair, Caroline Gill, says the festival will not only provide a unique entertainment spectacle, but will also serve as a creative platform for performers, artists and technicians to innovate and grow. “It will foster new high-quality works of art and technology, transforming urban locations into creative places, bringing the community together,” she says.
Expressions of interest are open now for artists, filmmakers, animators and creative specialists to apply to be part of After Dark Urban Light Festival. To find out more about artist applications visit www.afterdarkfestival.com/artist-application.
After Dark Urban Light Festival
13 - 22 May 2022
Tauranga CBD
www.afterdarkfestival.com