City’s Light shines again
AN integral part of Manchester’s art scene, the iconic Northern Quarter Light Tower, has undergone a series of renovations to restore it to its former glory and ensure it will remain a part of the city’s vista for years to come.
CityCo, Manchester’s city centre management company, has teamed up with NCP, which leases the Church Street car park the Light Tower sits atop, and Manchester City Council, to ensure some much needed renovations were undertaken to British lighting artist Peter Freeman’s installation ‘toy boy’.
These included the replacing of a number of the original neon light tubes with new eco-friendly, energy efficient LED Lighting.
This piece of art, which was commissioned by one of the Northern Quarter’s trailblazers, Liam Curtin, was funded by The Arts Council and first switched on at the Northern Quarter Street Festival in 1999.
Made of animated light tubes, the installation consists of 76 florescent multi-coloured lights, stands 12 metres high and is positioned on the red tower of the car park.
The Light Tower was switched back on in 2010 after sitting in darkness for nearly five years but in recent times, the installation had fallen into disrepair and without an agreed programme of works, would have needed to be removed permanently.
Working with CityCo and Manchester City Council, NCP undertook a series of renovations, with the installation in scaffolding for six months. Work on the project is now complete and will see this iconic landscape lighting up the Northern Quarter once again.
Tommy Wolstencroft, project manager for CityCo, said; “This much-loved piece of art has well and truly become part of the Northern Quarter landscape, it wouldn’t be the same without it.
“The work undertaken to keep the Light Tower was significant and did require some changes to the original lighting. CityCo liaised with Peter Freeman to ensure he was happy with the required renovations and he was in full support of the work NCP carried out.
“We’re delighted with the result and it’s great to see the Tower lighting up our skies once again.”
Sean Fenney, senior business manager for NCP said: “We’re really proud that we’ve arrived at the day when the light tower can get switched back on.
“NCP has been renovating the light tower as it is really important for us to support all aspects of the community that we work in. It’s an iconic feature for the city of Manchester, and NCP is delighted to have ensured that it will light up the area for many years to come.”
Peter Freeman, designer of the Light Tower, said; “The Northern Quarter Light Tower was one of my first public art commissions and has always been a very special sculpture for me. It was created in collaboration with Michael Trainor and the Art Department.
“The original concept for the light tower was a beacon of optimism reflecting the creative life and regeneration of the Northern Quarter. It’s wonderful that the spirit has been rekindled and the light tower is spreading its magic again.”
