Help shape the new lighting installation LIGHTPLAY at Royal Terrace Gardens

Torbay Council would like to hear your thoughts and ideas to contribute to the designs for new lighting artworks for Royal Terrace Gardens. The Council has been successful in attracting significant funding from the government Towns Fund for Torquay’s Town Deal to enhance areas of key public realm within Torquay.

Ginkgo Projects, on behalf of Torbay Council, and working with Torbay Culture at TDA has developed the idea of LIGHTPLAY as an interactive and playable creative lighting enhancement for Royal Terrace Gardens. The installation will help bring vibrancy to the seafront for the benefit of residents and visitors between Princess Gardens and Torre Abbey Sands. Lighting designer, Michael Grubb Studio has been appointed to develop lighting design proposals for LIGHTPLAY.

Michael Grubb said:

‘We are delighted to be involved, and look forward to collaborating with South Devon College to deliver something truly unique for Torquay. Our aim is to engage with the local community to develop an installation that promotes the area, activates use, and promotes the evening economy’.

Anne-Marie Bond, Chief Executive of Torbay Council said:

‘The funding we have received means this is an exciting time for Torbay as we develop our vibrant arts and culture offer for our residents and visitors, whilst at the same time enhancing our natural environment. We are keen to hear views on the emerging thinking and designs, and also to hear about any themes or stories that you may know about to form part of the design’.

Martin Thomas from Torbay Culture said:

‘Our purpose is to improve the quality of life through creativity and culture, and this is one part of that exciting process to make our home a better place in which to live, work, learn, and visit. We want residents and visitors to enjoy our open spaces for longer. Michael has cleverly used the idea of the bay’s sunsets as a starting point, and now Torbay residents have a chance to get involved to help shape the design ideas for enhancing Royal Terrace Gardens’.

We are keen to hear your views on the emerging thinking and designs and also to hear about any themes or stories that you may know about to form part of the design.

Click the button below to go to the engagement website - open until Friday 16 April 2021 - so take a look and respond with your views.

Information about Michael Grubb Studio:

Michael Grubb Studio is a multi-award-winning lighting design studio that specialises in creative light art installations for the external environment. The Studio designed the award-winning lighting scheme for the South Devon College Hi-Tech & Digital Centre here in Torbay, which opened in 2019. Clients include Historic Royal Palaces, the V&A, and Wembley Stadium; and previous projects include the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, the Night of Heritage Lighting installation for the Jurassic Coast world heritage site, and the Gardens of Light Festival in Bournemouth.

Download a copy of the Torbay Council news release here

Image: indicative lighting concept, Michael Grubb Studio