City Reflections

Illuminating the Archives

The second iteration of City Reflections was a free heritage trail of six large-scale animated projection artworks across six historic buildings throughout Southampton’s Old Town and city centre that audiences could explore at their own pace.

Each projection was shaped by a Community Curator working with their community – including older residents, diaspora communities, LGBTQ+, neurodivergent and young people – embedding lived experience, memories and new perspectives into the artworks.

The projections explored themes including migration, global exchange, creativity and belonging, reimagining the stories, people and objects that have shaped Southampton’s past.

Delivered in partnership with Southampton City Council and creative producers Light Up Trails and Double Take Projections, the programme was designed to be accessible, with free entry, looping screenings, audio descriptions for each projection and British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation at each location.

By combining large-scale projection with community-led storytelling, City Reflections created a shared, city-wide experience – inviting residents and visitors to engage with Southampton’s history in new and inclusive ways.