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140 households and businesses create illuminated displays for Ely Window Wanderland event
140 households and businesses across Ely created illuminated window displays as part of the city’s first Window Wanderland event.
140 households and businesses across Ely created illuminated window displays as part of the city’s first event.
Residents and business owners had been invited by Babylon ARTS and The Stained Glass Museum to participate in the nationwide initiative that began in Bristol in 2015.
Window Wanderlands have since proved a popular event for communities, particularly as they can be done safely and in line with Covid-19 restrictions.
Jasmine Allen, curator at The Stained Glass Museum, said: “The idea for our Window Wanderland came from Ely resident Rachel Lovesey, who works at the Stained Glass Museum.
“Colleagues were excited about the idea and thought it would be a great partnership community event in partnership with Babylon ARTS.”
MORE: Stained Glass Museum gets lifeline £70,000 boost from government fund
Rachel Lovesey added: “During the national lockdown, me and my children enjoyed and took comfort in the rainbow displays popping up in people’s windows around town.
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“It really lifted us to see how people were using their homes as a way of communicating and being creative, and inspired us to do the same with our street facing windows. This is where the idea for an Ely Window Wanderland began.
MORE: Make a ‘simple or spectacular’ illuminated display for Ely’s first ‘window wanderland’
“I’d heard about an event like this that happened in Bristol a few years back, and now seemed the perfect time for Ely to do something similar.
“I thought it could bring us together while keeping socially distanced.
“We’ve had fun making our own window display and have been excited to see what our neighbours have made too.”
The event gained support from Ely City Council who awarded a small grant towards the preparation and marketing costs.
MORE: Babylon ARTS receives ‘lifeline’ £60,000 grant from government’s culture recovery fund
Babylon ARTS’ chief executive Claire Somerville said: “We have loved working with The Stained Glass Museum on this event.
“It was a great suggestion to collaborate and Ely Window Wanderland has brought some much needed colour and creativity to our streets.”
Jasmine Allen added: “We hope everyone enjoyed creating their window displays and exploring the Window Wanderland trail as much as we did.
“Based on this years’ success, it’s certainly something we would like to do again.”
