Marina Bay will play host to i Light Marina Bay, Asia’s first sustainable light art festival, from 15 October to 7 November 2010.  i Light Marina Bay aims to celebrate the nightscape with the use of energy-efficient lighting and to create awareness for energy-saving lighting technology for the urban environment.  The Festival features a Light Walk comprising over 20 dynamic light art installations and sculptures as well as interactive and performance-based art displays from talented local and international design luminaries.  The artworks will be installed at various locations around Marina Bay including the newly opened waterfront promenade.  The event is free to the public.
 
2 The Festival is presented by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and organized by Smart Light Singapore.  It is part of Marina Bay Invitations 2010, a series of events planned to promote Marina Bay as a vibrant venue and a destination for a brand new live-work-play experience.  URA’s involvement in the Festival underscores its commitment to bring the best of leisure and cultural experiences to Marina Bay.
 
3 i Light Marina Bay is conceived as a festival that will create a dynamic visual night environment through the use of energy-efficient lighting for the community to enjoy.  The ‘i’ in the name alludes to the festival’s innovative content, the intelligent use of lighting as well as its international lineup of creative talent.  It is also an invitation to everyone to get involved in this free outdoor celebration of creativity in a new community space.   
 
4 “Besides creating a distinctive skyline and attractive public spaces around Marina Bay, URA is working with partners to offer a rich array of activities and events to enrich visitors’ experience,” said Mr Ng Lang, Chief Executive Officer of URA.  “i Light Marina Bay is one such event.  We hope that the show can give visitors an immersive experience of creative art works in a night setting in Marina Bay, and to encourage the community to come and discover and enjoy the Bay and many of the wonderful attractions around it.  Everyone is invited to be part of this family-friendly event,” he added.  
 
5 i Light Marina Bay is developed in partnership with URA by a creative team helmed by Ms Mary-Anne Kyriakou, the Festival Director, together with Singaporean curators Ms Kelley Cheng and Mr Randy Chan.
 
6 The first major light art event in Asia, the Festival is set to become the regional platform for the exchange of ideas and technology, artistic expression and public engagement through beautiful light art works with intelligent light usage.  To this end, a key component of the Festival is the participation of both local and international light artists and designers who will be creating new, site-specific works addressing the theme of people, place and time.   
 
7 Among the international artists are Francesco Mariotti from Switzerland, Ingo Bracke from Germany, Warren Langley from Australia and OCUBO from Portugal.  10 local artists have been selected from the artistic submissions received as a result of a call for entries that took place earlier.  They include contemporary artist Michael Lee; lecturer Angela Chong; architect Aamer Taher and the lighting design team from Meinhardt Light Design Studio. The selection was based on i) creativity of the light installation design which should be stimulating and engaging for the public, ii) feasibility of realising the idea and iii) the use of smart technology and/or design for energy efficiency.
 
8 “i Light Marina Bay will present new ideas for light art and architectural lighting in city environment through stunning light art sculptures and designs,” said Ms Mary-Anne Kyriakou, Festival Director.  “It will encourage cross-cultural exchange of ideas between the local and international artists as well as initiate an understanding of innovative approaches that reduce energy consumption and light wastage, while energising urban spaces.”
 
9 To complement the stunning showcase of light art installations, Smart Light  Singapore together with professional bodies in the areas of architecture, landscape, lighting, design, engineering as well as key education institutions and art galleries will be organising a series of educational and industry events. Community engagement will include numerous interactive activities embracing public spaces.
 
10 i Light Marina Bay is supported by major sponsors Philips and Maybank Singapore.  It will open nightly from 7.30pm to 12 midnight from 15 October to 7 November 2010.  As a preview to the festival, one of the art pieces, Flight to Light, will be showcased at The Fullerton Heritage Gallery, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore from 12 August to 7 November, from 10am to 10pm daily.