Snow set to fall in the town centre
As weather forecasters across the country predict no snow at Christmas, the port town of King’s Lynn in Norfolk is set to be hit with a blast of snow this Sunday, 23rd December. The snowfall is actually state-of-the-art projections and part of the on-going REVEAL project, an immersive adventure story created by arts organisation Collusion, which combines live street theatre, large-scale projections and augmented reality. The story launched in King’s Lynn on 25th November and ends on 4th January.
The snow projections, which can be seen at St Nicholas’ Church and the TSB Bank in King’s Lynn from 4pm onwards, is the fifth and final REVEAL projection and uses cutting-edge technologies to thrill and amaze audiences.
The stunning artwork has been created by Karen Eng and is for all those who love snowflakes. Karen Eng is a writer, editor and artist working in photography, video, digital and analogue painting, with a background in letterpress printing, book arts and zine-making. Speaking ahead of Sunday’s projection, Ms Eng said: “This foray into projection is a first for me, but something I’ve been thinking about for a while now. I’m interested in art that occupies public spaces in unexpected ways, changing people’s perception of familiar places and the ways they engage with them. Working with Collusion on this project has been an extraordinary opportunity to explore the town more deeply, and to discover a newly emerging network of creative people in the arts and tech. I’m looking forward to doing more with this community in King’s Lynn; it’s a fascinating, magical place.”
Rachel Drury, co-Director of the arts organisation Collusion who is behind the REVEAL project said: “This truly is going to amaze audiences. There is something magical and spellbinding about this projection. A whole new Christmas world will be brought to life, transporting the audience to a world of make-believe at a time when it feels like the world needs a little more joy and enchantment.”
Marcus Romer, co-Producer of REVEAL added: “We’ll also be offering free soup to warm everyone who comes along to see the projection.”
REVEAL was created by a cross-disciplinary team of over 35 creatives. These include award-winning artists, writers, playwrights, musicians, technologists and illustrators, all collaborating to create something on a huge scale. More than 1,000 people from across the East of England and beyond have been following the REVEAL adventure. They have been captivated by the story with its combination of magic, hidden codes, treasures and the romantic tale of Syrian refugee, Maya and her lost love. Later this week, Collusion will be announcing the winner of the £250 prize for the first person who cracked the codes from the augmented reality markers that were placed across King’s Lynn and west Norfolk.
Cllr Elizabeth Nockolds, Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk cabinet member for Culture, Heritage and Health, said: “The Reveal project is unique to King’s Lynn. Christmas is always a time to brighten the town with lights, but this project has added something extra special for shoppers, visitors and residents alike. Seek out the clues and enjoy the extra light projections on our wonderful heritage buildings. This project has brought together many artists and creators, from west Norfolk and beyond, who have designed something truly unique that has promoted Kings Lynn as a special town to visit.”
REVEAL is a joint project between arts organisation Collusion and the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk. The project is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, with additional support from the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, Discover King’s Lynn, and Norfolk County Council.