16 Mar 07

Some of the University's most historic buildings can be seen in a new light as part of a three-day sound and fire spectacular on Broad Street. For three hours each night, from 7-10pm on Thursday 15 until Saturday 17 March, electric lights will be switched off. Instead the area will be transformed by the light of a thousand flickering fires.

Following extensive safety and insurance checks, the University gave the go-ahead for its buildings to be illuminated as part of the fire installation which is part of the Oxfordshire 2007 celebrations.

Strings of pots containing lit candles will illuminate the Clarendon Building and Sheldonian Theatre, a giant candelabra hangs outside Balliol College, while in the centre of Broad Street a 15 metre spire of bamboo and metal with a slow-moving pendulum will make approximately 1,000 swings, each swing cycle representing a single year of Oxfordshire's history. A programme of live music by Oxford Contemporary Music will accompany the event.

The installation is the work of French art group, Carabosse, working in collaboration with Oxford-based artist Ted Dewan. Exeter College is showing its support for the project and for Oxfordshire 2007 by playing host to the team of French artists. The Rector, Frances Cairncross, said: 'Exeter College is delighted to support Luminox, because it feels strongly that the College has a role to play in the city and not just in the University. We are delighted to be given the opportunity to show our support for such a creative and innovative project.'