An annual Aberdeen art festival has been hailed a tremendous success after thousands of people turned out during the weekend.
Spectra, the city’s festival of light, exceeded expectations with opening night attendance figures nearly doubling last year’s event.
The festival launched on Thursday and 7,500 people attended the stunning spectacle across its five sites – Union Terrace Gardens, Marischal College, St Nicholas Kirk, the kirk yard and Seventeen on Belmont Street.
There were 35 artists involved in creating 30 installations at the four-day festival, which finished last night.
Hundreds of people braved the freezing temperatures to watch local dance troupe, Fusion, perform a unique routine in Union Terrace Gardens (UTG) to officially open the festival.
Following the dance, there was a recorded Doric address from local poet Sheena Blackhall.
One of the most popular attractions over the weekend was the Cloud in UTG – a spectacular structure made up of light bulbs which shimmered against the often wintery night sky.
The park was the centre of the event and was transferred into a psychedelic light show.
Another key feature was Les Araignees, The Spiders, by French artists Groupe LAPS. The eerie display in the kirk gave visitors the illusion that arachnids were crawling through the graveyard.
The event was organised by the city council and arts production company Curated Space.
Deputy council leader Marie Boulton attended the official launch event and said: “Each installation is so unique and it is such a thrill to see these installations by internationally renowned artists here in Aberdeen.
“Year-on-year, Spectra just gets bigger and better than ever.”
The St Nicholas rooftop garden also hosted the True North Music Stage, where a variety of local bands and singers performed.
And there was the chance for the public to get involved, by attending the Stack workshops.
This installation allowed people to participate in workshops, which were based on local history and heritage.
The art produced was subsequently transformed into an installation using Perspex and LED lights and exhibited the following evening.
