Light Up The Town

“For the first time in our 800-year history, the church was beautifully illuminated with stunning projected displays.”

— Richard, Mildenhall

Light Up The Town 2025 took place across Fenland and West Suffolk as a large-scale community project marking the transition from winter to spring. Created by SDNA and produced by Marketplace Arts in collaboration with local residents and community groups, the project transformed seven town centres with light projections and moving images celebrating local identity and creativity.

“It brought all ages together. This was especially appreciated by those who struggle with the dark nights. Spring is now in the air! Thank you for brightening up our town.”

— Rev. Canon Wendy Thomson, Vicar, Chatteris Church of St Peter & St Paul

The creative process began with photographs of gardens and plants shared by local gardening groups. Local residents used these images in collage and painting workshops to create artworks inspired by their favourite local landmarks. The completed pieces were then digitised and animated using a combination of traditional and AI-assisted techniques, before being projection‑mapped onto selected locations, giving each town a distinctive visual story that reflected its character and community.

Over 1,500 people attended events in Chatteris, March, Wisbech, Whittlesey, Brandon, Mildenhall and Newmarket, where the animated artworks were displayed onto well‑known buildings and landmarks.

The project was shaped by community voices from the beginning. MarketPlace Arts convened local panels to select SDNA for the commission, ensuring representation from each participating town. Together, the partners created a shared experience, a dialogue between artists, people and place.

The light shows were supported by local venues and volunteers who helped create welcoming, lively spaces for visitors to gather and enjoy the installations.

Thanks to the community groups – Brandon Circle, Mildenhall Teen Chill, Newmarket Art Group, Wisbech Recovery Café, Cromwell and Neale-Wade Academies, and Whittlesey Brownies and Girl Guides – for their creative contribution to the project.

Special thanks to the gardening groups – Brandon in Bloom, Brandon Town Keepers, Mildenhall in Bloom, Newmarket Community Nature Reserve, and Fenland In Bloom – for sharing images from their work.

Also huge thanks to the community spaces kindly hosting the light shows: Brandon Town Council, St Mary’s Church Mildenhall, St Mary’s Church Newmarket, Wisbech & Fenland Museum, March Town Hall, St Mary’s Church Whittlesey and Church of St Peter & St Paul, Chatteris.

Light Up The Town 2025 was commissioned and produced by MarketPlace Arts, part of Creative People and Places, an Arts Council England initiative backed by National Lottery funding.