Science Week at Cathedrals

Cathedrals mark British Science Week with …. Sound and Light shows to take visitors into space and beyond

So, it thrilled audiences in Exeter and got Picture of the Day in The Daily Telegraph and now its heading up north to take visitors to Sheffield Cathedral on a journey into outer space.

Space, the sound and light art installation by the artistic collaboration, Luxmuralis will become The Observatory when it opens in Sheffield Cathedral this Friday (March 13) for eight days and coincides with British Science Week.

This immersive sound and light installation will offer visitors the chance to walk through space, experience meteor showers, explore the Big Bang Theory, watch original footage from the first moon landing in 1969, and wonder about the creation story as they see the earth from space for the very first time.

Sheffield Cathedral has also teamed up with Sheffield Astronomical Society whose volunteers will be giving free talks every evening; there will be an interactive engagement area where visitors can gaze into the night sky through powerful telescopes, and children will be able to draw pictures of space, rockets and aliens.

It was the first time Exeter Cathedral has been transformed by sound, light and digital imagery and the three-day event was a huge sell-out success. The Observatory is the latest in a number of art shows planned by Sheffield Cathedral as part of a three-year programme of fresh and creative engagement projects that started with The Angels Are Coming for Christmas that attracted 11,500 people.

The Very Reverend Peter Bradley, The Dean of Sheffield said: “It was a big decision for the Cathedral to commit to ‘The Angels are Coming…’ but we’re so glad we did. The response from the people of Sheffield and further afield was incredible. So we are thrilled to be working with Peter Walker and the Luxmuralis team again for ‘The Observatory’ and can’t wait to see one of Sheffield’s oldest buildings brought to life through imaginative use of light, sound and digital imagery.”

The Reverend Canon Keith Farrow, Vice Dean and Canon Missioner of Sheffield Cathedral said:

“Ancient churches would at one time have been brightly painted and coloured on the interior and the images would have told people the stories of faith and events in the Bible. Through imaginative and innovative use of sound and light we’re using modern technology to do the same.
“We hope through the experience of travelling through time and space, standing amongst the stars and journeying to the edge of the universe in this amazing place, will give people the chance to contemplate their own personal journey in life, “ he added.

THE OBSERVATORY
March 13- 20

Tickets are £6 for adults, £4 for children (aged 4 to 12). Children aged 3 and under FREE. A family ticket is £17.50 (2 adults and 2 children).
For a carer ticket, contact Sheffield Cathedral.

First entry to the Cathedral will be at 6:40pm and then every 20 minutes thereafter. Last entry at 9pm.
Allow approximately 1 hour for the whole experience.

For more information and to book tickets, go to the Sheffield Cathedral website or visit the Cathedral Gift Shop.