City of Light - Next Gen
Tamworth has been known historically as the ‘City of Light’, as part of Heritage Week Tamworth Regional Council and Arts North West brought this theme into the 21st century with the ‘City of Lights’ Project.
‘The City of the Light’ event showcased large-scale projections from local artists Daniel Stanley and artworks from Gomeroi artists Kayleb Waters-Sampson, Ruben Mellor, and Jayden Kitchener-Waters. As well as flipbook animations from the students at the Tamworth Art Academy and TRC After Hours art classes. The Tamworth Film and Sound Archive also developed a short film featuring the changes in Fitzroy Street from the turn of the century to now.
On Friday the 21st of April, 2023 Fitzroy Street Plaza was a glow with all things illuminated including projections on buildings, neon embellished live music from Goldheist, LED and Blu light activities, Celtic harps, giant illuminated cities from repurposed cardboard boxes, neon signs, and LED balloons.
This event was a trial to test the community’s response to the space and this form of urban renewal and activation in Tamworth. Overall over 800 people attended the event and 26 creatives were provided paid opportunities. Local businesses reported an overwhelming increase in business on the night with over three times their profit reported during the delivery of the event.
This project funding was secured by Tamworth Regional Council through the NSW Government Department of Planning, Industry and Environment ‘Streets as Shared Spaces’ initiative.
