Leeds lights up with new illuminations as the city reopens for Christmas shoppers following end of second national lockdown

The “Dear Leeds” installation brings more than the spirit of the season to Briggate as it delivers a series of personal, uplifting and fun greetings to people passing beneath.

Neon lyrical messaging suspended over the street speaks to the city while echoing subtle sentiments of the season. The words of a poem by local creative writer Kate Ryrie have become neon art, bringing colour to the city’s main pedestrianised walkway.

The greetings read: "Dear Leeds, we are your people; Past, present and future; Of big hearts and bigger minds; Exactly where you’re meant to be; A new year, your future’s in sight; Marching on together; Where tomorrow is ours; This is your time, love Leeds x."

“Dear Leeds” forms the centrepiece of the Welcome Back to Leeds this Christmas as retail and some other businesses look to reopen from today.

The installation is brought to the city by LeedsBID (Leeds Business Improvement District), working with renowned design and infrastructure consultancy James Glancy Design, who specialise in festive lighting.

"We want these words to lift spirits, bring a smile to people’s faces and inject some colour to the city centre during the festivities and beyond.”

Creative writer Kate Ryrie, said she was honoured that words that were meant to be a hopeful letter have become part of the reopening of the city in time for Christmas.

She added: "These words began as a hopeful letter to Leeds from the depths of the first lockdown, and they’ve gone on to become so much more – from coming to life on film, to lighting the skies of Briggate.

“I’m honoured to have been part of creating this powerful message at a time when our city needed it most, and I hope people can look up at my words and feel proud to call such a vibrant, resilient place home. Now, with light at the end of the lockdown tunnel, I like to think these lights serve as a reminder of what we’ve been through together – and all the good times still to come.”

“Dear Leeds” will be shining out on Briggate until January 17.

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