Media Release from LUMA Southern Light Project

May 2 2019

Business support flows for award-winning Queenstown light experience LUMA

Two major Queenstown businesses are flying the flag for the multi-award-winning LUMA Southern Light Project.

Skyline Queenstown and Queenstown Airport are supporting the event as installation partners, with the countdown well and truly on to four evenings of illuminated art, light sculptures and entertainment in the Queenstown Gardens over Queen’s Birthday weekend (May 31 – June 3).

LUMA mirror ball installation. Photo credit Collab Photography

Now in its fourth year, around 50,000 people are expected to brave chilly winter nights to go on a sensory journey through the gardens and around the Queenstown Bay waterfront.

The free public event is a riot of light and colour, focusing on the transformation of space, public interaction, art, culture and education. It’s all made possible by curated collections of stunning light sculptures and thought-provoking installations, brought together by a group of young Queenstown professionals who donate thousands of hours’ time to bringing the event to life.

Skyline Queenstown is supporting the creation of a two-part projection titled Superposition by Creature, by artist Lakshman Anandanayagam, which will link the gardens installation to the Skyline Queenstown complex on nearby Bob’s Peak.

Queenstown Airport is supporting 'Trilogy' by visual arts initiative the South Island Light Orchestra (SILO) and & AMD. The installation has been designed specifically for LUMA and will also appear at the airport after the event.

Duncan Forsyth, LUMA Light Festival Trust chairman, says the increased business support is a new phase of growth for the event. Skyline is a first-time installation partner and Queenstown Airport returns to the event after taking a break last year.

“We’re thrilled to be an official installation partner for LUMA19,” says Skyline General Manager Wayne Rose.

“At Skyline Queenstown, we continuously look to support local community initiatives we feel align closely with our core values and represent who we are as an organisation.

“LUMA is the perfect opportunity to do just that and by mirroring an installation from the gardens within the Skyline complex, we’re also providing Gondola Annual Pass holders with another reason to ride up the Gondola. And it promises to be a lot of fun!”

Duncan Forsyth says the trust is delighted to see more local businesses than ever before recognising the value LUMA brings to the town.

“Community engagement is at the heart of everything we do at LUMA so this is part and parcel of that,” he says.

“The event continues to evolve as a sensory experience with a broader focus this year on live performance, so this increased support from two very prominent local businesses goes a long way to confirming we’re on the right path.

“We can’t thank them enough.”

LUMA Southern Light Project and the LUMA Light Festival Trust are very proudly supported by the Central Lakes Trust, the Queenstown Lakes District Council and Queenstown law firm Anderson Lloyd.

ABOUT LUMA

Free event from 5pm to 10pm daily

Queenstown Gardens and waterfront

Queen’s Birthday weekend – May 31 to June 3 2019

People are encouraged to take public transport and lift share where possible

Full event information at www.luma.nz

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