Children from around Wales have been busy preparing designs for a spectacular Christmas lights display outside the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. This year the Children’s Capital Jubilee Lights will provide a special addition to the capital’s Christmas celebrations, with the display of seasonal lights designed by children from schools representing all 22 local authorities in Wales.
The lights are to be mounted on 12m high illuminated Christmas trees, specially constructed by Gala Lights, and attached to the masts on the Riverwalk alongside the Millennium Stadium and River Taff. Each tree will incorporate space for two individual design panels reflecting Welsh children’s thoughts of Christmas.
Children from schools throughout Wales have been working hard in class to design their festive light pictures. In Conwy County Borough, Blessed William Davies School, Llandudno took part and the children have enjoyed the creative experience.
At Blessed William Davies School, pupils spent several weeks working on their designs. Headteacher, Mrs Elaine Dingsdale, said: “The preparations for Christmas have started very early this year, but the project has proved a great success. The detailed Christmas designs of our year 2, year 1 and reception pupils have been submitted and a selection of them have been transferred to the bright lights. The children look forward to seeing the finished designs and six pupils will have the chance to see them for themselves when they travel to Cardiff on the trip organised by Cardiff City Council. As a school, we are proud to be part of this wonderful experience, alongside schools from all over Wales.” Mrs Julie Bridges, the school's Art Co-ordinator and Year 2 teacher, added: "This was an exciting project using a fresh medium that millions will see."
Now that the designs from around Wales have been collated work is starting in earnest to translate the images to hand-welded light panels. Pupils have also been able to learn about design, engineering and light technology thanks to the educational support of specialist lighting engineers Gala Lights. Gala have provided scientific advice to teachers and initiated an online discussion group where participating schools have access to information and images and the ability to exchange ideas. Classes have also been given a piece of rope light to work with, to give the project more of a hands-on quality.
Reinhard Stille of Gala Lights, said: “Being engineers and designers we concentrate on the scientific side of lighting, but this project has really added a creative excitement to our work. The children’s pictures were fantastic and we have had a lot of fun turning their ideas into reality.”
As well as celebrating the festive season, the lights will symbolise the opening of the Cardiff 2005 celebrations, as the project is the first of a planned series of all-Wales events celebrating Cardiff’s century as a city and fifty years as a capital.
The lights will be switched on by the Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Councillor Jacqui Gasson on December 13. Councillor Gasson said: “I am absolutely delighted that so many children from around Wales have been able to get involved in this project, which is a celebration for the whole of Wales of the Jubilee of their capital city. The designs they have come up with are wonderful and really bring out the Christmas spirit. I am so looking forward to seeing the finished result.”
