Historic buildings lit up to celebrate King's Lynn's maritime heritage

The colourful displays, inspired by the town's residents, are lighting up the Minster, Greyfriars Tower and the Custom House.

This is one of the biggest art installations King’s Lynn has ever seen, to celebrate the town's maritime heritage and the anniversary of rejoining the Hanseatic League.

Cllr Sue Lintern, Cabinet Member for Culture and Events, says, "We invited residents young and old to take part in sessions held across the town to design artwork that encouraged friendship across communities and focused on specific themes of King’s Lynn international connections, contemporary and historical residents, including local heroes, and shipping, sailing and piracy.

“We have then asked internationally renowned SDNA Ltd to turn some of this artwork into moving images that you will see projected on the Custom House, the Minster and Greyfriars Tower.”

"We worked with over 180 people from King’s Lynn to reimagine the town’s maritime heritage through visual creation," says Valentina Floris, Co-Director at the studio SDNA Ltd.

"During a series of analogue workshops, participants designed ships, maps and sea creatures which we then digitised and animated."

“By combining traditional art techniques with digital animation, we aim to make large-scale public art accessible, inclusive and shaped by the community’s own imagination. 

"Voyages reflect our ongoing interest in place, memory, and collective imagination. It celebrates King’s Lynn as a town shaped not only by its past, but by the creativity of its people today,” adds Valentina.

Phillip Eke, the Senior Tourism Officer at the borough council and Hanse Commissioner for England, says “This has shined a spotlight on our rich local history and King’s Lynn’s membership of the new league helps bring about closer economic, cultural, social and national ties with our Hanse partners across northern Europe.”

The art instillations can be seen until the end of the year.

All Images Ian Burt