Berwick’s 18th-century barracks will come alive with large-scale light projections in a “living parade,” marking the launch of a five-year project to boost visitor engagement.
Part of The Living Barracks initiative, this inaugural event will showcase artwork by artist Matthew Rosier, who is inviting locals to participate by being filmed walking, dancing, or skipping.
These clips will form a vibrant visual performance, Berwick Parade, accompanied by the Pipe Band of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, a regiment with deep ties to the town.
James Lowther, Head of Visual Arts at The Maltings, the commissioning body, emphasized the community-centric approach, saying, “Local people are at the heart of Matthew’s plans, and we can’t wait to see the results.”
The Grade I listed barracks, designed by architect Nicholas Hawksmoor, are heralded by English Heritage as “the largest and finest built in England.”
Once home to a full regiment of infantry tasked with quelling uprisings, the site will now be reimagined through the £12 million Living Barracks project.
Future plans for the site include transforming the parade ground into a venue for music, theater, and cinema, along with the addition of a new museum, shop, and restaurant.
The largely vacant barracks will also house flats and workshops for local artists to create and sell their work.
The Berwick Parade will light up the historic site from February 28 to March 2, 2025, offering a glimpse into the barracks’ renewed role as a cultural and community hub.
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