The windows of twelve empty shop units in Nottingham city centre are being transformed into twelve magical scenes that shoppers and visitors to the city will be able to enjoy in the lead up to Christmas.
12 Windows of Christmas Cheer is a joint initiative of the Nottingham Business Improvement District (BID) and Nottingham City Council who have commissioned twelve leading Nottingham creative specialists to take a window each and design and create a festive scene of their choosing. It has also been made possible by a number of agents and property owners in the city who have kindly loaned properties for the duration of the project.
Designed to be a festive trail around the city centre, shoppers and visitors are encouraged to visit all of twelve windows and then vote for their favourite. If they pick the winning window, they will have a chance of winning £500 to spend at any business that is part of the Nottingham BID. The designer of the winning window will also win £1,000.
The twelve windows are as follows:
• A Partridge in a Pear Tree – Bridlesmith Walk – decorated fruit trees and living walls – by bio urban designers, Splant
• Enchanting Enlightenment – Carlton Street, Hockley – a cosy winter scene featuring sculptures with moving lights – by light sculptor, Adam Spinos
• Christmas Heart of Heritage – Flying Horse Walk – award winning designer Debbie Bryan will be showcasing Nottingham’s lace heritage through a festive scene.
• Winter Wonderland – The Exchange –– the UK’s most talked about corsetiere, fashion designer and entrepreneur Susi Henson of Eternal Spirits will reveal a snowy Winter Wonderland.
• The Enchanted Forest – Pelham Street – a snow covered forest intertwined with beautiful jewellery pieces and five gold rings at the centre of it, all set against a handpainted backdrop – by ethical giftware designers Elefair
• A Cartoon Christmas – Listergate – a wild and boisterous action packed celebration of Christmas as seen through the eyes of a child, in the classic British cartoon style of Beano and Dandy – by illustrator Rikki Marr
• Magic Kingdom – Carrington Street – Rob Howie Smith will be creating a theatrical display of the wolf man’s Christmas lair
• The Spirits of Nottingham – St James’ Street – an atmospheric Christmas scene by costume designers and creators, Golden Cage
• Angels in Flight – Friar Lane – giant white snowflake lighting installation and flying angels – by world-renowned architectural ironmonger, Philip Watts
• A Seasonal Illustration – Maid Marian Way – A Christmas tree featuring decorations from many of Nottingham’s leading creatives – by Mimm
• Nativity Scene – Castle Road – a nativity scene to celebrate the hope that the birth of any child brings – by architect Dr Valeria Passetti, Conception Architects
• Santa’s Workshop – Derby Road – a magical glimpse of elves busying themselves creating Christmas gifts and miniature furniture – a collaboration between Design Playground, headed by Sarah Davenport who has also art directed the project, Yashmit Amit and Webs Furniture Training.
12 Windows of Christmas Cheer is part of wider Christmas campaign organised by the Nottingham BID designed to attract more people to the city for their Christmas shopping and entertainment. With the diverse mix of well known national chains, unique independents, top end boutiques, restaurants and bars within a compact area, Nottingham is the perfect place in which to shop and socialise this Christmas.
The initiative is also designed to improve the landscape in the city centre over the festive period.
“The aim of this initiative is to enhance the whole experience of coming to Nottingham this Christmas and to encourage people to visit different parts of the city to see what it has to offer which is why we have created the trail,” said Nicola Tidy, a director of the the Nottingham BID and chair of its marketing group. “It also provides the perfect opportunity for some of our highly talented creative people to showcase their skills and creativity whilst also enhancing the appearance of the city centre.”
Councillor Nick McDonald, City Council Portfolio Holder for Jobs, Skills and Business, said: “Nottingham is the most creative city in the UK. The 12 Windows of Christmas Cheer project is a great way to celebrate that, and celebrate the festive season and Nottingham, by dressing up currently empty window space and creating something a bit special for visitors to our city centre. A big thank you goes to all of the window designers, and of course all the property owners and agents for taking part.
“With £500 worth of vouchers up for grabs, I’m sure there will be plenty of people taking the opportunity to check out all 12 of the windows and vote for their favourite.”
The agents and property owners who have kindly helped with the project are FHP, Lambert Smith Hampton, Savills, Nottingham City Council Property Plus, Nottingham Regeneration, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Futures, Bildurn, Bruton Knowles, London & County, The Exchange and the Park Plaza.
To enter the competition people need to scan the QR code that appears in the signs in the windows or go to www.itsinnottingham.com/12windowsofchristmas The closing date for entries is noon on Thursday 20 December. The winner will be notified by Friday 21 December so that they can spend their voucher before Christmas.
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