Aberdeen's SPECTRA festival lights up Granite City

Bosses say the four-day event will prove a hit

Published 10th Feb 2017
Last updated 10th Feb 2017

Aberdeen's festival of light is underway, after SPECTRA launched last night

It marks the first in a series of collaborative cultural events for Aberdeen City Council.

We’ve been along to see what it’s all about:

Through working with partner organisations such as Curated Place, Visit Scotland, Event Scotland and Aberdeen Festivals, the Council is aiming to strengthen Aberdeen’s reputation as a tourism destination and support the city’s economic strategy.

Aberdeen City Council Deputy Leader Marie Boulton says it’s a great way to showcase the city’s landmarks:

SPECTRA showcases Scotland's intriguing history, impressive cultural heritage and fascinating archaeology through a series of specially commissioned installations in city centre locations.

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland's Director of Events, said: “EventScotland is delighted to be supporting SPECTRA as part of Scotland’s 2017 Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology celebrations.

“2017 is the year to delve into the past and discover Scotland’s fascinating stories through a wide-ranging, variety of new and existing activity and I’m certain the packed programme for SPECTRA will bring our past to life in the context of a modern, innovative and vibrant Scotland.”

SPECTRA 2017 also marks the beginning of the Aberdeen Festivals season. Aberdeen Festivals Director Angela Michael said: “Working together as Aberdeen Festivals has proven to be a huge success for the festivals as well as the city and wider region.

“SPECTRA is our first festival of a year-long calendar of events and is a spectacular way to kick start 2017 and the national Year of History, Heritage and Archeology.

“Through collaboration, creativity and hard work all the partners involved in the city’s revitalised cultural scene including VisitAberdeenshire, Aberdeen City Council and the festivals in the group are delivering a wonderful programme that repositions the region as a vibrant and exciting place to live, study, invest or visit”.