A FESTIVAL of light will kick off the first of four new festivals planned for Worcester in the new year.

Light Night will brighten up the city centre on the evening of Thursday, January 16.

Organisers have promised that Light Night will 'animate the city' with a stunning programme of light installations, digital projections and playful performances.

The festival is inspired by the connections between each other and the world around us.

Visitors to the city centre will have the chance to see a large colourful umbrella spectacle, a series of glowing see-saws and a hooded sculpture designed to captivate the audience and challenge perceptions around anti-social behaviour.

David Edmunds, festivals director, said: “I am very excited about this year and our four new festivals.

"They have all got very strong and distinctive themes and it’s great to be able to start sharing more information about them and how each one is going to be brought to life.”

Atmosphere, the second festival is in April, followed by Disrupting the Norm in July and Worcester’s International Story Festival in October.

Peter Knott, area director for Arts Council England, said: “Festivals are a fantastic way to bring people together as a community, create business partnerships and instil civic pride, and on top of all that, these festivals in Worcester also promise to offer creative opportunities and a chance to think about environmental issues too.

“This is a transformative time for Worcester, as the Cultural Development fund helps to build on the creativity that’s at the centre of the city’s future development and we are proud to support the city as The Arches project gets underway.”

All four festivals are funded through The Arches project by the Department of Culture Media and Sport Cultural Development Fund, administered by Arts Council England.

To keep up to date with festival news visit: thearchesworcester.co.uk