Cambridge prepares for 800th Anniversary finale

Exactly twelve months from the start of the 800th anniversary celebrations, when more than 10,000 people crowded into King's Parade to witness a spectacular light show, light will once again tell the University’s story.

For three evenings beginning on Saturday 16 January, a light show designed by world-renowned light artist Ross Ashton will be projected onto iconic central Cambridge buildings. This year’s event will build upon that of last year. Spectators will follow a circular route from Senate House Yard, down Senate House Passage and into the grounds of King’s College, where another piece of light art will be projected onto the Gibbs Building, as well as onto Cambridge’s most famous landmark, King’s College Chapel.

Whereas last year’s show focused on Cambridge’s history, this year’s show will focus on the transformative research taking place at Cambridge. Stunning images from across the University will showcase the wide variety of work happening today.

Blurring the Boundaries is a video installation to be projected onto Senate House and Old Schools. The show will examine the interactions between art and science. Nano, which will be projected onto King’s College Chapel, will feature an array of images from the Cambridge Nanoscience Centre. Proteins to Planets, which will be projected onto the adjacent Gibbs Building, will illustrate the range of research in the physical sciences taking place at Cambridge, from galaxies and nebulae to fruit flies and plant cells.

The event will run from 6.30pm until 10.00pm on 16, 17 and 18 January, and is free and open to the public.

The 800th Anniversary has been celebrated in dozens of events throughout the year, including a Cambridge-themed BBC Proms concert and a Garden Party for Cambridge staff and their families in July.