Explore Week

21 – 25 October

Explore Week is new for Light Up Lancaster 2024 – a week of free activities, family friendly engagement and participation with fun and exciting sessions discovering The Art of Science and leading up to the main festival.

In conjunction with artists, creative technologists and arts companies, a range of researchers and academics from Lancaster University, Explore Week will reveal fascinating insights and learning about light, art and science.

Explore will be based in The Storey, Lancaster and will have a comprehensive schedule of lively, hands-on activities from October 21st to October 25. The week will be produced by the Light Up Lancaster delivery team and coordinated with the Engagement team at Lancaster University.

Throughout the week (MONDAY TO THURSDAY), Ludus Dance will be welcoming you to their space on the ground floor of The Storey to play and move with light art, and experience how they make the Solar Eclipse stage production for Light Up Lancaster!

At 10-12pm each day (Mon-Thu) they will welcome Under 6s and their parents for gentle movement and shadow and light play.
From 2-4pm each day (Mon-Thu) they will welcome the over 6s and their parents to explore independent shadow play, movement games and more, within the studio lit with solar power, torches and projections. Parents over children under 8 years old will need to be holding the torches at all times, and no more than 2 children per adult please.

Monday 21 Oct		Sessions
The Gallery	Build a space-themed bottle lantern OR make LED lanterns, OR make a donations basket for Olive Branch food bank. With Molly Bland, Shane Johnstone & Anna Read.	10am – 12pm 2pm – 4pm	All ages
The Music Room	Get creative and make your own experimental cabin with Diamond Light Source, the UK’s own particle accelerator!	10am – 12pm 2pm – 4pm	Recommended for age 7+
The Reading Room	Paint a bumblebee nest box with Philip Donkersley, aka Dr Bees!	10am – 12pm 2pm – 4pm	All ages
The Auditorium	Make a Kaleidoscope! With Nick Greenall & Windermere Science Festival.	10am – 12pm 2pm – 4pm	All ages
Tuesday 22 Oct		Sessions
The Gallery	Build a space-themed bottle lantern OR make LED lanterns, OR make a donations basket for Olive Branch food bank. With Molly Bland, Shane Johnstone & Anne Read.	10am – 12pm 2pm – 4pm	All ages
The Music Room	Create a Planet Promises Wall for Light Up Lancaster. With FoodFutures & Closing Loops.	10am – 12pm 2pm – 4pm	All ages
The Reading Room	Explore the fun and creative printmaking technique of Gelli Plate printing with Jess Levine.	10am – 12pm 2pm – 4pm	All ages
Wednesday 23 Oct		Sessions
The Gallery	Shadow Puppetry. Make your own shadow puppets and see them come alive! With Three Left Feet.	10am – 12pm 2pm – 4pm	All ages
The Music Room	What is a Luminescent Solar Concentrator? We’re glad you asked… With Lancaster University.	10am – 12pm 2pm – 4pm	All ages
The Reading Room	Make a Zine! With Morecambe & Lancaster Zine Library. Inspired by Plover Scar lighthouse.	10am – 12pm 2pm – 4pm	All ages
The Auditorium	Bioluminescence – a dazzling display of living, glowing creatures with Lancaster University	10am – 12pm 2pm – 4pm	All ages
Thursday 24 Oct		Sessions
The Gallery	What is a Luminescent Solar Concentrator? We’re glad you asked… With Lancaster University	10am – 12pm 2pm – 4pm	All ages
The Music Room	Doodlebug – an inclusive interactive dance performance for families with young children. With LPM Dance. To book, email takepart@lightuplancaster.co.uk	11am – 12pm 2pm – 3pm	Families with young children
The Reading Room	Make a willow lantern to bring to Light Up Lancaster with Jo Thompson.	10am – 12pm 2pm – 4pm	All ages
The Auditorium	Experiments with science & gadgets. With Lancaster & Morecambe Makers.	10am – 12pm 2pm – 4pm	All ages
Friday 25 Oct		Sessions
The Gallery	Shadow Puppetry. Make your own shadow puppets and see them come alive! With Three Left Feet.	10am – 12pm 2pm – 4pm	All ages
The Music Room	Stop Motion Improv – make and film weird and wonderful characters with E2M. Plus…Decorate a terracotta diya lamp with Shreya Ghodke.	10am – 12pm 2pm – 4pm	All ages
The Reading Room	Space Wall – write a letter to send into space! With Ash Murphy.	10am – 12pm 2pm – 4pm	All ages
The Auditorium	Bioluminescence – a dazzling display of living, glowing creatures with Lancaster University	10am – 12pm 2pm – 4pm	All ages