31st July 2025
A Proud Milestone for Our Community Curators
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Experience Southampton’s rich past on a six-location projection trail this February 2026, with stories from the city’s history cast in light across its buildings and streets
City Reflections: Illuminating Southampton’s Stories is an animated light projection trail that will run across four evenings in February 2026, bringing the city’s history to life in bold and creative ways. Six historic buildings across Southampton’s Old Town and city centre will be transformed with large-scale projections, immersive soundscapes, and storytelling inspired by the city’s Art, Maritime, and Archaeology Collections.
What makes this project unique is its commitment to community co-curation. Six Community Curators, each representing a different Southampton community, have worked closely with the creative team to delve into the city’s archives, uncover meaningful stories, and select rarely seen objects that connect both with the building they’re paired with and the communities they represent. Their input has shaped the content and tone of each projection, ensuring every experience is grounded in local voices and lived experience.
The trail’s themes and locations include:
- King John’s Palace – Trade and Textiles, curated by Rajan (Indian community)
- Holyrood Church – People and Global Connection, curated by Abs (African diaspora)
- The Bargate – Culture, curated by Thelma (Young People, Sport and Disabled communities)
- The Dancing Man Brewery – Ships and Shipping, curated by Stephen (Older Isolated People, in partnership with Communicare)
- The Castle Vaults – City Maps and City Walls, curated by Beth (Neurodivergent people)
- Southampton City Art Gallery – curated by Ri (LGBTQ+ community)
City Reflections: Illuminating Southampton’s Stories will also showcase highlights from Southampton’s world-class Collections, sharing some of the city’s most fascinating objects and stories as part of the celebrations leading up to the reopening of Southampton City Art Gallery later in 2026, following its major refurbishment.
Presented by Southampton Forward in partnership with Southampton City Council, City Reflections is created with Light Up Trails and Double Take Projections, supported by funding from Arts Council England, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The project is also supported by Southampton Forward’s founding city partners: Southampton City Council, University of Southampton, Southampton Solent University, GO! Southampton, Paris Smith, and Mayflower.
Supported by:
Founding City Partners
