We collaborated with artists and technicians to install a series of light-based installations into, on and around the Civic Centre, that revitalised and activated this iconic and significant building within the Conservation Area.

As part of the High Street Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) programme to revitalise and activate the City Centre Conservation Area we collaborated with artists and technicians between Autumn 2022 and Spring 2024, to ‘breathe life back’ into the Civic Centre building and immediate area (guildhall, civic square, council house), and create everyday cultural encounters for those who see them.

The commissioned four light-based works highlighted and celebrated the past whilst looking to the future of the Civic Centre and square to once again become a symbol of hope and regeneration for the city.

This project was led by Plymouth Culture, in partnership with Plymouth City Council and funded by Historic England through the Heritage Action Zone programme.

THE FIRST INSTALLATION – ‘WHAT WILL YOU MAKE OF IT?’

The first in a series of light installations in the heart of Plymouth glowing from the windows of the iconic Civic Centre.

The programme launched with the illuminating message ‘What Will You Make Of It?’ and was developed by the agency Creative Concern as part of the marketing campaign for the nationally-recognised British Art Show 9.

One of the show’s themes was ‘imagining new futures’ and the light installation reflected this by trying to connect people to their heritage while looking to the future of the city, in a way that would build understanding, tolerance and pride.

This first installation was supported by contractors Squibb Group, and JHAV who provided technical project management throughout the programme.

THE SECOND INSTALLATION – ‘LOVE IS THE HIGHEST ECONOMY OF LIFE’

The second light installation sees a powerful message that echoes Plymouth’s kindness and togetherness.

Created by local artist collective Still Moving, ‘Love is the Highest Economy of Life’ covered the top five storeys of the 14-storey Civic Centre with an inspiring message that echoed Plymouth’s kindness and togetherness.

The emotive sentences emanated from the central refrain: ‘LOVE IS THE HIGHEST ECONOMY OF LIFE’, and together called for collective change towards a more simple way of living within the finite resources of our beautiful planet.

The poem was edited from a longer text written by Booker Prize-winning author Sir Ben Okri, in response to the climate emergency, and used the same materials as the globally renowned No New Worlds light installation from 2020.

THIRD LIGHT INSTALLATION – ‘NEAR SUTTONA’

Near Suttona celebrated the heritage of Plymouth’s Civic Square and the buildings that surround it through a series of neon light installations.

The neon tubes were displayed along the windows of the Council House which combined to create imagery that evoked the original Plymouth plans from 1956 based on Patrick Abercrombie and Paton Watson's post-war Plan for Plymouth.

The strikingly creative artwork was created by Plymouth-based artist Nick Halford whose design work and installations appear around the city, including the eye-catching cinema sign inside the University of Plymouth’s Roland Levinsky Building.

THE FOURTH LIGHT INSTALLATION – GLOW IN THE PARK

The fourth and last light installation, Glow in the Park was a pop-up experience inspired by Plymouth Sound National Marine Park.

The experience was a fantastic cross-over of the sea and arts and culture, with immersive, family friendly artwork depicting aspects of our oceans for the community to interact and learn from.

This project was made possible thanks to collaboration from Plymouth Culture and the National Marine Park and artists Iona Scott, Els Morris and Chloe Georgakis.

Hear from those who made the event possible.