THE Northern Quarter Light Tower has undergone a series of renovations to restore it to its former glory and ensure it will remain a part of the city’s vista for years to come.

There was a feeling of a new creative quarter emerging in the city

CityCo have teamed up with NCP and Manchester City Council to ensure repairs were undertaken to Peter Freeman’s installation ‘toy boy’, which included replacing a number of the original neon light tubes with new eco-friendly, energy efficient LED Lighting. 

The piece was commissioned by Northern Quarter trailblazer, Liam Curtin. It was funded by The Arts Council and first switched on at the Northern Quarter Street Festival in 1999. Made of animated light tubes, the installation consists of 76 florescent multi-coloured lights, stands 12 metres high and is positioned on the red tower of Church Street car park. 

The Light Tower was switched back on in 2010 after sitting in darkness for nearly five years but the installation had fallen into disrepair and without an agreed programme of works, would have needed to be removed permanently. 

The installation has been wrapped in scaffolding for six months but work on the project is now complete and the lights are back on.

 

Peter Freeman, the designer of the Light Tower, said; “The Northern Quarter Light Tower was one of my first public art commissions and has always been a very special sculpture for me.The original concept for the light tower was a beacon of optimism reflecting the creative life and regeneration of the Northern Quarter. It's wonderful that the spirit has been rekindled and the light tower is spreading its magic again.” 

Liam Curtin said: “I commissioned the light tower in the 1996, at that time the Northern Quarter was still quite derelict but many of the buildings were being renovated and there was a feeling of a new creative quarter emerging in the city. I felt that the light tower would act like a beacon for the rest of the city, saying this is where it's happening now.

"It also was a symbol of our regeneration as we had raised the money ourselves and lots of local people helped erect it. I'd always admired Peter Freeman's work and there was no question that it would be his light that would shine on the regeneration of the area. I love seeing the searing colours reflected in windows and puddles all over the area. I am so pleased that it shines once again for us.”

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