Lux Helsinki challenges everyone to light up their surroundings
Leena Suominen is a resident of Kustaankartano Comprehensive Service Centre. Photo: Eliel Kilkki
Mayor Jan Vapaavuori launches Light Challenge at press conference today.
Lux Helsinki challenges local residents, communities and companies to light up the darkest time of the year by creating their own light installations. The Lux Helsinki light festival, which takes place from 6 to 10 January 2018, will encourage everyone to get involved and experiment with light art. Mayor Jan Vapaavuori announced the Light Challenge at the Helsinki Christmas press conference that was held at City Hall today.
“Lux Helsinki is a unique event. Not only does it dominate Instagram and other social media more and more with each year, it also motivates people to go outside despite what could well be the most miserable weather of the year. What I would like to do now is extend Lux Helsinki to everyone by inviting you to take part in our Light Challenge using the hashtag #valohaaste,” Vapaavuori announced.
The Light Challenge promotes a community spirit by encouraging locals to design and implement their own light installations together with friends, family, work colleagues or fellow students. The light installations can be created in any way you like, for example out of materials you can find at home. Once your light installation has been created, you can participate in the challenge by sharing a photo, video or gif animation of your installation on social media using the hashtag #valohaaste.
Light Challenge brings light and a friendly community spirit to start of the year
Real estate company and Lux Helsinki partner SATO kicked off the Light Challenge already last week by lighting up the windows of an apartment building in the Kallio district. The light installation highlights the joy of working together, as it was made possible through collaboration among tenants of the apartment building.
“We helped spread a little neighbourly love on Castréninkatu by means of illuminated messages. These small positive messages can reinforce the sense of community and belonging. We were so impressed that we have encouraged tenants of other apartment buildings to also take part in the Light Challenge. We expect to see new light installations in our properties throughout the city this winter,” says Miia Eloranta, Marketing and Communications Director at SATO.
The Light Challenge will continue until mid-January, when the three best installations will be awarded. Participating installations do not have to be large-scale projects for a chance to win; instead, the most interesting and memorable images will be selected. For further information about the Light Challenge and inspiration for your own light installation, visit the Lux Helsinki Facebook page and the updated Lux Helsinki website as of 27 November 2017.
In addition to SATO, others who are taking on the Light Challenge include Slush, which will be lighting up the city from Messukeskus to the centre, the Kustaankartano Comprehensive Service Centre, the café Paulig Kulma, healthcare services provider Mehiläinen and the radio station Bassoradio. Also in the spirit of the Light Challenge, major buildings including City Hall, the Presidential Palace, the historical buildings in Senate Square, Finlandia Hall, the Olympic Stadium Tower and the Helsinki Central Library Oodi will be illuminated in blue and white lights from 5 to 7 December 2017 to mark Finland’s birthday.
Materials: Image bank for light challenge
Media contacts:
Annina Pikkumäki
Mellakka Helsinki
+358 40 575 5776
annina@mellakkahelsinki.fi
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