Winning designs produced by local school children are helping light up Manchester city centre this festive season after their winning designs have been made up into illuminated displays
Six children from local schools in Manchester were chosen as the winners in a citywide competition in collaboration with Blachere Illumination. Youngsters were encouraged to let their creative juices flow and design new Christmas lights that would be turned into sparkling lights for display, in the run-up to Christmas in the city centre.
Just one of the amazing opportunities provided this year to children and young people through the Council’s 2022 Our Year campaign, the winning designs will be lighting up Cathedral Walk, alongside Manchester Cathedral throughout the festive period.
The Creative Kids competition saw the Council receive over 70 entries from young people across the city. The winners of the festive competition have had their designs made into real Christmas lights that will adorn the city centre throughout the holiday season, alongside the famous Manchester Christmas Lights and Christmas Markets.
The lights were switched on for the first time last night, Thursday 10 November, with winners of the competition and their families invited to a special switch-on event to see their designs come to life, illuminating the night sky.
In addition to the six winners who had their designs made up into lights, 24 of the runners-up have had their Christmas light designs printed onto boards that will also be on display in the city centre. Their designs take pride of place around the perimeter of the Skate Mcr Ice Rink in Cathedral Gardens where they will be displayed until the rink closes on New Year’s Eve.
The competition was organised as part of 2022 Our Year, a Council campaign to provide children and young people across the city with opportunities, activities and fun throughout the year.
Councillor Garry Bridges, Executive Member for Children and Early Years, said:
“2022 Our Year is a campaign run by the Council where we’re putting children and young people first and shining a light on their successes.
“Christmas is a special time in Manchester and it’s amazing that children from across the city will see their work made into lights which will be displayed in the heart of the city centre, for all to see throughout the festive period.
“It is great to see the brilliant lights that the winners of the Creative Kids competition have designed. This is great recognition of the talent and creativity of children in Manchester – they should be very proud of their achievement.
“The lights will be up for the public to see, photograph and enjoy all throughout the holiday period- check them out!”
Robert Stalker Director of Blachere Illumination, said:
“We’re very proud to be working in partnership with Manchester City Council to spread Christmas cheer through our ‘creative kids’ drawing competition. This Christmas, six competition winners will see their Christmas, drawing designs, manufactured into column mounted Christmas motifs to be displayed in Manchester city centre. We’ve loved seeing all the fantastic entries from children in Manchester this year and look forward to seeing them illuminated this Christmas. This is a brilliant way to add a little magic to local children’s Christmas and is sure to be a cherished memory for them for years to come.”
