East Renfrewshire Council's winter lighting festival, Electric Glen, a Homecoming Scotland 2014 event, returns for its second year next week with an exploration through light, sound, performance and projection. Electric Glen has almost sold out all of its 24,000 tickets for this year more than doubling its sell out success of 10,000 tickets last year.
Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Paul Wheelhouse said: “Rouken Glen Park is a popular visitor destination throughout the year and Electric Glen is a shining example of a Homecoming Event, celebrating one of Scotland’s most stunning parks and its rich economic and cultural heritage.”
This year’s Electric Glen will also nurture talents from local schoolchildren by featuring a print pattern project from East Renfrewshire’s High Schools and will include the ever popular Model Steamer Club who are based at the park.
Jim Fletcher, leader of East Renfrewshire Council explains, "The event brings together some fantastic artists working in visual, sound and performance to bring the heritage of the park to life. We're also delighted to involve local schoolchildren in the creative process - engaging them in a project which teaches them about the cultural history on their doorstep.
"Electric Glen 2014 promises to be a feast for all the senses and definitely a fantastic way to see Rouken Glen Park in a new and exciting way after dark."
The park, which was once home to the Crum Family who ran the Thornliebank Calico Printworks, will be transformed by visual, sound and performance artists who will pay homage to the amazing commercial design and calico printing industry in the west of 19th century Scotland.
The night time trail will feature expert story telling from The Walking Theatre Company; an original sound score and music from Dan Fox of Sound Intervention; a projection installation from Glasgow based VJ - Jamie Wardrop and lighting design from Creative Director, Phil Supple.
Phil Supple explains, “This year the audience will be taken on a journey down through the Auldhouse Burn gorge, which will be immersed in the saturated colours of the Calico dyes from the orient, projected patterns and designs from the Thornliebank Company archive and sounds from the far corners of the world where materials were sourced and much of the printed cloth was sold.
Following the watercourse, that was shaped by and provided power for this industry, the audience will finally emerge upstream at Rouken Glen’s beautiful illuminated waterfall, and then follow the end of the trail at the Boating Pond, where they will be able to interactive with a series of fun installations.”
An intriguing clue trail will keep young explorers entertained along the way as they hunt for six clues along the trail with a special token up for grabs if all of their answers are correct. The Boating Pond will also be hosting two brand new special effects this year. Splosh and specially designed curling stones with a difference.
Depute Council Leader, Tony Buchanan, Convener for Sustainability and Infrastructure explains, “Local restaurants and hotels are set to benefit from Electric Glen with many running promotions for the whole run of the event.”
The 24,000 available tickets have all but sold out but there are a few slots left available on Thursday 13 February. To book tickets visit www.electricglen.co.uk or call Ticketmaster on 08444 999 990.