Northern Quarter light tower to shine again

22 Jul 2010, 15:42

Five years after it was last seen in action, a piece of public art in Manchester's Northern Quarter is to be switched on again.

Cityco, the council's city centre management company, have brokered a deal with NCP to enable the light tower to be powered through the electricity supply of the Church Street multi-storey car park on which the light sculpture sits. NCP will provide the electricity free of charge.

The 12-metre tower of animated neon light tubes will be switched on from 9pm to 1am daily.

The Arts Council-funded artwork cost £35,000 and was first switched on at the Northern Quarter street festival in 1999.

Vaughan Allen, chief executive of Cityco, said: "We're pleased to have been able to work with Manchester City Council and NCP to bring this well-loved piece of art back into use. We're grateful for the support of both organisations for making this happen."

Lighting artist, Peter Freeman, who designed the light tower said: "It's fantastic to have the tower illuminated again. The tower was one of my first big art commissions and it has a great energy and presence."

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