Blackpool’s giant mirror ball installation, created as part of Blackpool Illuminations’ Festival of Light 2005, won the prestigious 2006 Lighting Design Award for “Best External Installation.”
The project features six Robe ColorSpot 1200ATs that were specified by lighting designer Greg McLenahan and the Blackpool Illuminations team, for a project illuminating the largest mirror ball in the world, stationed on Blackpool Promenade. It was one of the new lighting features for the world famous Blackpool Illuminations’ “Festival of Light” concept, switched on for the 2005 season. The fixtures were supplied by Blackburn-based HSL.
The LD Awards judges were impressed that the mirror ball installation “invited a high level of interaction with the public,” commenting, “you couldn’t light it better.” The 2006 Lighting Design Awards¬¬–which recognize the most innovative and creative use of lighting in all types of environments–took place at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel, and was attended by more than 700 lighting industry professionals and key practitioners. The Awards are sponsored by the UK architectural lighting magazine, Lighting.
Councillor Eddie Collett, Blackpool Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Tourism, states: “We are absolutely thrilled and delighted that our stunning mirror ball has won such an influential award and is recognised on both national and international level”
The 20’-diameter rotating mirror ball is named “They Shoot Horses Don’t They” and has been in residence since 2002. It was created by Manchester-based artist Michael Trainor and is synonymous with the culture of ballroom dancing, for which the town is also historically renowned.
For more information on the lighting of the mirror ball, see “Robe Lights World’s Largest Mirror Ball”.