"We were approached as event producers and asked to come up with a number of different ideas," explains Mark Harrison. "Milton Keynes is set out on a grid system and the city wanted something unique that, when the centre of the city was closed off, would work with the road system, naturally leading people from place to place, with the building projections used not only as a spectacle in themselves, but to let people know what was going on."
The event ran from 5pm until 11pm, with shows repeating throughout the evening, so no matter what time people arrived, they wouldn't miss out on any of the action. It was a full three years in the making, with The Full Effect in charge of raising the funds to bring the concept to life. This included donations from English Partnerships, the UK's national regeneration agency, Sales MK and the various participating companies.
"Each of the companies involved wanted something different out of the event," continues Harrison. "Some wanted product placement, some wanted general exposure and some wanted their building lit so that people could see it as they went by."
Light Fantastic was unanimously deemed a success, with many unsolicited positive comments being left by members of the public on the Light Fantastic web site. A year on, its success is even clearer to see from the influx of emails to thecentre:mk's website, asking when it is going to happen again.
"We were delighted to be so closely related with an event that was so professionally organised and had acts of an international standard coming to Milton Keynes. It really put the city on the map." says Jackie Tracey, of thecentre:mk.
(Jim Evans)
