Plans to bring Aberdeen’s dazzling light festival back are gathering pace.
Aberdeen City Council has announced the company who will be responsible for Spectra, which brings thousands of people into the city each year.
Events production company Live Event Management has been awarded the £200,000 contract.
The firm, based in Sauchen, has worked with the city council on Spectra before as well as other events including Aberdeen Highland Games, the Queen’s Jubilee Picnic and the Tour of Britain.
Although plans for next year’s event are still under the wraps, bidders were asked to design a programme utilising key sites including Union Terrace Gardens, Schoolhill, and Broad Street.
The plans also had to feature outstanding artwork by artists with national and international reputations.
Two bids were received, with Live Event Management the successful candidate.
Local events company chosen as successful bidder
Aberdeen City Council’s culture spokesman Martin Greig said: “I am delighted to announce that Aberdeen City Council will be working with Live Event Management Ltd to deliver the landmark tenth edition of Spectra.
“It’s particularly pleasing that a local events production company was able to put together such a strong bid for the 10th Spectra, which is recognised as Scotland’s Festival of Light.
“Creating opportunities and partnerships with local businesses is a key part of the Council’s Events plan, and I am confident that by working with Live Event Management Spectra will continue to wow audiences in February 2024.”
The council has committed to delivering the event and is seeking corporate sponsorship to cover some of the costs.
Full plans will be revealed in the coming months, but work to bring large-scale projections, light installations and artwork to the city in February is already well under way.
Callum Macleod, director of Live Event Management Ltd added: “Live Event Management is delighted to be working with Aberdeen City Council to produce and deliver Spectra 2024.
“We are particularly looking forward to working with an interesting group of local, national and international light artists, along with the local community, to deliver a programme of exciting, interesting, and challenging artworks, whilst also illuminating and showcasing Aberdeen city centre landmarks and heritage.”
The 2023 festival attracted 119,000 visitors across the city centre, as well as a host of international artists showcasing art, sculptures and projections using the architecture of Aberdeen as their canvas.
It featured work in three key sites across the city including Union Terrace Gardens, Aberdeen Art Gallery and Broad Street, including Marischal College.
