Illuminate

The incredible light-based festival, Illuminate, returns to Plymouth’s historic Royal William Yard from 28 November to 1 December, marking the official start of the Mayflower 400 commemorative year. From 5.30pm each evening from 28 November to 1 December, the free festival promises immersive visual art, spectacular projections and interactive installations set out across it’s festival centre, Royal William Yard.

New for 2019, Illuminate welcomes you to discover additional installations around the Barbican and Mount Edgecumbe. Illuminate will open the Mayflower 400 commemorations in November 2019 during Thanksgiving and close them in November 2020. The project is a signature event in the Mayflower 400 programme and connects the partner destinations across the UK and internationally.

The historic yard and surrounding areas will come alive with stunning projection mapping, interactive pieces and playful light art installations. Created by local and international artists, tech designers and students the festival promises to deliver an inspiring immersive experience which will delight visitors of all ages. Illuminate is free to attend. Families are welcome and there are plenty of interactive and playful workshops for everyone to get involved in, both during and in the lead-up to the festival.

This year’s festival hosts a variety of installations from local, national and international artists. Illuminate is proud to welcome back Spanish artist Xavi Bové, who will headline the 2019 festival with his piece ‘Tree of Memory’. The installation will transform the front of Mills Bakery through beautifully poignant projection mapping, into the centrepiece of the Yard. Also returning to the festival is creative explorer Thomas Voillaume. Voillaume is returning for this year’s festival with an even more spectacular humanoid installation ‘DIVA’.

Other artists creating installations include ARCAAN Collective, Alison Pym, The Media Workshop, Mike Cobb from Highly Interactive, Illumaphonium ltd, BLAST ART, Ace Delos Santos, Ada Krzoska, Dan Sumner, Eliza Newman, Maisie Newman & Rowan Evans.