The artists behind the installations at River of Light 2025 inspire young people in the city with a series of creative sessions.
The young people’s engagement programme, developed by the Culture Liverpool team, helped to connect young people with the River of Light’s featured artists, offering creative, hands-on workshops that encourage artistic expression and learning.
St John Bosco Arts College
Students from St John Bosco Arts College recently had the exciting opportunity to experience Liverpool’s River of Light exhibition through a specially curated, up-close tour. The group explored each installation in detail, taking time to appreciate the creativity, innovation, and cultural significance behind every piece. This immersive experience allowed our young people to engage directly with contemporary art in the heart of their home city; making culture feel accessible, relevant, and inspiring.
A standout moment from the visit was a live Q&A session with the creators of Face Value, one of the exhibition’s most talked-about installations. Blending elements of a fantastical gameshow with cutting-edge technology, Face Value features an AI-powered robotic artist that selects and transforms participants’ images in real time. The artists shared insights into their creative process and the conceptual ideas behind the work, sparking thoughtful conversations with students about identity, digital expression, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in the arts.
This experience not only deepened students’ appreciation for visual art but also encouraged critical thinking about the intersection of creativity and technology in today’s digital world. It was a powerful reminder of how public art can educate, provoke, and inspire the next generation.
All Saints Primary School
All Saints Primary School had the pleasure of welcoming Valerita, one of the creative minds behind Dandelion, a stunning installation featured in this year’s River of Light festival. Valerita shared the inspiration behind the artwork, explaining how it draws from the natural beauty of dandelions and uses light, sound, and movement to mimic the way dandelion seeds float gently through the air. The piece is a beautiful fusion of science and art, capturing the wonder of nature through immersive technology.
The artist’s visit sparked curiosity and creativity among the children, who were fascinated by the idea of blending artistic expression with scientific concepts.
Inspired by what they learned, the pupils worked together in groups to design and create their own interpretations of a dandelion by bringing their ideas to life through collaborative art-making. It was a truly enriching experience that not only deepened their understanding of the installation but also encouraged teamwork, imagination, and a hands-on connection to the arts.
Arnot St Mary Primary School
Josh from Beamhacker is the creative mind behind Embrace, a circle of 15 glowing figures that light up and play sounds when people hold hands. It shows how touch connects us, creating beautiful patterns and music as more people join in. He kindly visited the children at Arnot St Mary Primary school to discuss how the simple act of touch – proven to release oxytocin, lower stress, and strengthen bonds – becomes a living demonstration of bioelectricity and the transfer of energy between people.
Their activity put this into practise, with the class collaborating on a piece of work that built a small electronic circuit that needed to join together perfectly to allow it to glow. The class also got to flex their creativity skills by decorating their own Embrace figure as a reflection of themselves.
Plan your visit with the map, FAQs and accessiblity information here.
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