Ely, Cambs 2020

Help us create Ely’s first Window Wanderland!

23 and 24 October 2020

Calling all Residents of Ely – have fun by making an illuminated window display in your home as part of Ely’s first Window Wanderland…

What is Window Wanderland?

Window Wanderland is a fun family-friendly event where communities create illuminated displays in windows. You can use the street-facing windows of your home, business, school, nursery, car, shop, or even your door, or front garden. A map showing the locations of illuminated window displays is then created to form an after-dark walking trail and community event, transforming local streets into galleries.

Successful Window Wanderland events have been organised by community groups across the UK since 2015, when the first event was held in Bristol. Ely’s first Window Wanderland is being organized and promoted by two of the city’s arts organisations, The Stained Glass Museum and Babylon ARTS.

When is it?

Ely’s first window Wanderland will take place over the evenings of Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October 2020. Everyone is encouraged to get involved by illuminate their street-facing windows between 5.30pm and 8.30pm, creating an after-dark walking trail of glowing windows.

How to get involved

Taking part is FREE and everyone is welcome. We would especially encourage resident families, local businesses, and community groups such as guides, brownies, scouts, to take part by creating an illuminated window display for this special event.

If you’re planning on transforming a window for Ely Window Wanderland please sign up on our Window Wanderland event page so that we can map participants on our website and create a local trail. Then get planning your window display! If you have any questions please refer them to: Elywindowwanderland@gmail.com

Looking for Inspiration?

If you’re wondering what to make, it can be as simple or as spectacular as you like, as long as it’s family friendly. You can use carefully-crafted tissue paper or tracing paper images, make a sign, handprints, use your recycling materials, or a projector.

For inspirational tips on materials go to https://www.windowwanderland.com/make/. 

The best displays can be the simplest. For ideas and inspiration for window creations go to the Window Wanderland website https://www.windowwanderland.com/gallery/

Bringing the community together

Many groups and venues have had to cancel events in the past few months. Window Wanderland is an event we can all participate in by creating art within our houses and communities to be seen from the outside; creating a fun temporary after-dark art trail in our city.

During the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown period the thresholds of our homes have become important cultural spaces. Standing at the intersection of the private and the public, at a time when our means of social connection and collective cultural engagement have been drastically reduced, over the last few months we have seen windows and doorways used repeatedly as sites of creativity and communication.

We have seen windows filled with rainbow art works of hope, with displays commemorating VE day, celebrating the NHS, illuminated in remembrance of those who lost their lives at Grenfell Tower, and to protest that Black Lives Matter. Many of us have stood on our front door steps to clap with our neighbours in recognition of the service of others; we have walked our streets and looked at them anew.

These displays have allowed us a sense of togetherness in our isolation and hope in our uncertain present, as well as enabling community creativity. We hope Window Wanderland will create a fun event this October half-term, and hope that it might become an annual event for the city of Ely.