City Reflections: Illuminating Southampton’s Stories – A First Look
This Wednesday, our communities came together for an exciting first glimpse of City Reflections: Illuminating Southampton’s Stories – a project that will light up Southampton next February with six stunning projections.
Over the past few months, our Community Curators have been working hand-in-hand with their communities, diving into archives to uncover stories, images, and moments that speak to their chosen themes. Seeing these efforts begin to take shape on screen was truly inspiring.
Here’s a sneak peek at the projections and their amazing curators:
- 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 & 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 – You Are Invited, curated by Ri (LGBTQ+ community)
Libby Battaglia, the project’s creative producer, and Steven McConnachie from Double Take Projections have been transforming these archival treasures into vibrant, immersive projections. For the first time, the Community Curators and their communities got to see their months of hard work taking shape and catch a glimpse of how it will dazzle audiences across the city.
The preview sparked excitement, conversation, and a real sense of pride, as everyone witnessed creativity, research, and collaboration come to life in stunning visual form. City Reflections will be open to the public from 18–21 February – a chance for everyone to experience Southampton’s rich history and diverse stories beautifully illuminated across the city.
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