The artwork is free to access and forms part of the Our Future Starts Here programme for North East Lincolnshire.
When: 9 April – 4 May
Where: Grimsby Minster, St. James Square, Grimsby DN31 1JN
Tickets: Free.
Major, large-scale touring artwork Helios (the Sun) by British artist Luke Jerram, will be presented at Grimsby Minster, from 9 April to 4 May.
This stunning artwork features detailed imagery of the Sun’s surface and is free to access.
It forms part of the National Lottery-funded Our Future Starts Here programme for North East Lincolnshire – a ‘future-facing’ five-year cultural programme for the region.
Our Future Starts Here brings together The Culture House, Voluntary Action North East Lincolnshire, Franklin Sixth Form College, University of Hull and Hammond House to engage residents in a wide range of inspiring events and activities.
Headline-sponsored by Ørsted and additionally supported by AP Robinson and RSUK, Helios follows on from the success of the Museum of the Moon and Gaia (the Earth) – both presented in recent years by The Culture House at Grimsby Minster, with these awe-inspiring spectacles each attracting thousands of visitors.
A relatively new artwork, Helios was originally commissioned by National Trust, Cork Midsummer Festival, Liverpool Cathedral, Old Royal Naval College and University College London and it is the first time it will have been presented in the North-East of England.
The internally lit sculpture provides an opportunity to see the Sun’s extraordinarily detailed surface and gives us a chance to consider its importance to human life – as a source of light, warmth and energy for our planet. It also invites us to reflect upon and recognise our own role in protecting the natural world around us.
Helios is accompanied by a specially created surround sound composition by Duncan Speakman and Sarah Anderson.
Charlotte Bowen, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of The Culture House, said:
“We are so excited to be hosting Helios in Grimsby – it’s the first time this impressive installation will have been presented in the Lincolnshire and Humber region.
“It also marks the launch of the next five years of Our Future Starts Here, when working with a fantastic range of local and national partners, we’ll be bringing some really exciting and accessible artworks to North East Lincolnshire, as well as commissioning local creatives and providing a wider range of events and workshops for people of all ages to get involved with.
“The overall objective is to activate and celebrate North East Lincolnshire as a place of vision, innovation, leadership and creativity.
“We know this will be a major attraction that will contribute to uplifting our place, provide reasons to connect and act as a way of inspiring people to reflect on our relationship with our local environment, including nature.
“We’ll soon be announcing a wide range of events and activities that people can get involved with and experience – including other light installations, theatre, music and family activities.
“Our Future Starts Here’s joint aim over five years is to support, educate and inspire on what is often complex subject matter, using arts and culture to raise awareness, have fun, grow skills and to create a sense of a shared journey for the better.”
