Promenade Artistic Lighting Scheme

A lighting scheme consisting of 28 computer-controlled LED strips launched at the end of 2019. The lights are situated along the promenade between the Pier Bandstand and the Pavilion, lighting up Weymouth bay with a series of lighting programmes inspired by the local community.

The lighting artwork amplifies the natural rhythms of Weymouth; programmed using an astronomical clock, the lights turn on for 30 minutes each morning in time with the rising sun, and then turn on again in the evening in time with the setting of the sun. After the sunset, the lights then remain on until 11:30pm in the winter and 1am in the summer, and cycle through 10 unique active scenes that celebrate the elements and activities of Weymouth, with gentle ambient scenes in-between.

Extensive community engagement was undertaken to feed into the design brief which was developed by Bounce Back Arts, the local artistic lead. A community consultation, lead by the Dorset Coast Forum, engaged with thousands of local residents and tourists whose responses helped to influence the final design of the lighting scheme. Tonkin Liu, who were appointed to lead the design process, participated in workshops at local schools and colleges to understand what was important to the children and young people about the seafront and think about how these things could be displayed in patterns of light.

Further information on the project, including a timeline of events and frequently asked questions, can be found here.

The Weymouth Promenade Artistic Lighting Scheme is part of Dorset Coastal Connections, a portfolio of 18 connected projects along the Dorset coast coordinated by the Dorset Coast Forum and funded by the Coastal Communities Fund. The projects aim to improve physical, digital and emotional connections to the Dorset coast and provide good quality public areas for residents and visitors. If you would like to know more about the wider portfolio, please click here.