City centre shop and business windows are set to become dazzling showcases for Spectra – and offer fans of Scotland’s Festival Of Light the chance to win a £100 Aberdeen Gift Card every day of the event.
Aberdeen Inspired is providing 35 businesses with 50 LED illuminated balloons each to create their own “artwork” to complement the eye-catching and acclaimed installations Spectra will bring to the Granite City from Thursday, February 6, to Sunday, February 9.
As a bonus, each balloon-dressed venue will also have a few mystery envelopes on display – but only one will contain a £100 Aberdeen Gift Card for a lucky winner to find each day Spectra is running.
The fun-filled project has been made possible thanks to funding from Aberdeen City Council’s City Centre Events Grant Scheme.
Danuta Dobrzanska, business engagement and development manager for Aberdeen Inspired, said: “Aberdeen is going to be a blaze of colour for the four days of Spectra and we wanted to give local businesses a chance to add their own dazzling flair to this hugely popular festival.
“Each of the businesses taking part will have 50 LED light-up, multi-coloured balloons and I am looking forward to the vision and imagination they bring to bear for their own art installations in their shop fronts and premises, stretching from the Castlegate to the West End. The sky really is the limit for what they can do with these star-filled balloons.
“Aberdeen Inspired is very grateful for the Aberdeen City Council funding that has made this exciting project possible and to the businesses who have rushed to support it.”
Danuta said the idea of a £100 Aberdeen Gift Card, secreted away in an envelope in one of the shops every day would bring a fun “treasure hunt” feel to balloon campaign. Other envelopes could contain a mix of “better luck next time” messages or prizes, such as vouchers or discounts offered by that business.
She went on: “It will be great fun for people to visit the participating shops to see if they can find the ‘golden ticket’ in the envelopes on display – a £100 Aberdeen Gift Card offers a fair bit of spending power with local businesses.
“And the other offers and discounts shoppers could find is a great incentive, too.
“So not only will this campaign add a splash of colour, light-hearted fun and excitement to complement Spectra, it will also get people through the doors of bricks and mortar businesses to help them find new customers and boost their trade.”
Councillor Martin Greig, Aberdeen City Council’s culture spokesperson said: “Aberdeen City Council is delighted that so many local businesses are keen to apply for its special one-off Spectra grant.
"This will help the businesses to show their support for this year’s Festival of Light, which returns to the city on Thursday February 6. Whether it’s a Spectra item on the menu, light-based displays, decorations and other adornments to their premises they will all add to the spectacular experience that Spectra has to offer.
“Our one-off grants to local businesses are intended to make the city and the city centre even more vibrant during the period of the Spectra Festival. This has become a very popular annual event and we want the business community to benefit as much as possible from the increased footfall.”
Spectra will illuminate the skies of Aberdeen with 15 art light installations, and a wide range of supporting activations, from fire street performances to dancers and musicians. The festival is free-to-attend and owned and commissioned by Aberdeen City Council, with Aberdeen Inspired as a festival partner.
You can find out more about Spectra here