Glasgow set to shine in honour of Robert Burns

Nov 27 2008 By Frank Hurley

Burns night lights

LIGHTS will be burning bright to celebrate Burns Night in Glasgow next year.

And the front of the City Chambers will act as a giant screen to portray the life and times of Scotland's national poet.

The Burns event will be the climax of three nights of displays on the building's frontage in George Square.

The three nights will support the Homecoming celebrations taking place across Scotland in 2009, marking the 250th anniversary of the birth of Burns.

The visuals will be created by projection artist Ross Ashton, of E/T/C UK Ltd, who put together similar large-scale light shows at Buckingham Palace, for the Queen's Jubilee in 2002, and Edinburgh Castle, for the Military Tattoo.

Burns' life and times will be depicted in a lighting projection - with accompanying music and narrative soundtrack - on the facade of the building every evening from January 23 to 25.

The title of the whole event is Burns Illuminated. And the final evening - Burns Night - will feature a variety of musical performances and a special ceremony to complement the lighting project.

Glasgow is the home of one of the biggest Burns' collections in the world - held in the city's Mitchell Library - with the original manuscript of Auld Lang Syne being a prized part of the collection. And pieces from this collection will be used by Ross.

Deputy Lord Provost, Allan Stewart, leader of the city's lighting strategy, said: "This will be a truly unique event and will stand out amongst the many fantastic Homecoming performances which will be taking place in Scotland next year.

"Glasgow has hosted several successful lighting and projection displays over the past few years. And this is sure to be one of the most distinctive of them.

"Burns Illuminated offers a great chance for the many lovers of the work of Burns, in Glasgow and around the world, to come along and enjoy what will be a memorable and popular celebration of Scotland's greatest poet."