Hull does not have a sufficient residential base in the city centre for it to stay alive after sunset. At the end of each working day there is a mass exodus back to the suburbs. Any sort of life is restricted to a few pockets of activity – mostly on a weekend. Lighting positively impacts a city – enhancing cultural experiences and encouraging social interaction. Bringing life back into Hulls Centre is crucial to the quality of urban life and the success of the local economy. Creating a colourful light spectacle is a particularly effective way of inviting people back into the city at night. By lighting up empty buildings and spaces above shops and cafes that no one inhabits; using energy efficient solutions to colour and light upstairs windows.

What we'll deliver:

• Target some of the larger buildings that have been empty for 20+ years.
• Place multi-coloured and patterned adhesive films onto glass and backlight with LEDs
• Do this on a large scale along pedestrianised streets.

Why it's a great idea:

Lighting affects where we go, when we go and which route we take. This project has the potential to bring life back to the city centre; returning it to its inhabitants, encouraging socialising, and enticing people to stay, work and live. With time this will make the city feel more lived in, safer, and welcoming. Successful night time ventures in other cities have given entrepreneurs the confidence to set up innovative and exciting new businesses. To help this happen we need to turn Hull City Centre at night into a vibrant, creative, cultural space that people want to spend time in, not run away from. This project would be a fully inclusive / engaging spectacle that has the opportunity to improve the aesthetics of the the City Centre at night, ahead of City of Culture 2017.

Steps to get it done:

• Investigate innovative, cost effective and energy efficient ways of delivering the project
• Set up a steering group of local Artists, Architects, Lighting Engineers
• Develop a media campaign to gain support / interest.
• Develop a relationship with local businesses /materials suppliers

The following are potential ideas for future events that could build on the success of Hull - Night Vision.

Coordinate the events over one late night a month.

Allow emerging artists the use of empty shop fronts / windows for pop up exhibitions.
Family orientated ‘Night Walks’ coinciding with opening of cultural attractions.
Cycle Rides / Roller Blading / Glow in the Dark Fun Runs around pedestrian zones or closed streets.
Open Museums, Art Galleries and Street Cafes.
A Night Market / food stalls.