A spectacular sound and light experience has been unveiled in a historic canal in Cardiff city center, which has recently been renovated after being buried for decades. A section of the pier underpass, under Churchill Way on Queen Street in the Welsh capital, had not been seen since the 1950s, before it was officially reopened and unveiled to the public two weeks ago.

The work carried out was part of a wider town center regeneration project in which the council planned to extend the canal to the feeder dock south of Tyndall Street and future reconstruction of the surrounding roads. There are also plans to extend it to Bridge Street, David Street, Charles Street, Tredegar Street, Guildford Crescent and Barrack Lane. For the latest WalesOnline news newsletters, click here.

On Friday night, the channel launched a specially designed sound and light experience. Commissioned by FOR Cardiff and Christmas in Bute Park, Illuminated Reeds Symphony is a seven-metre light installation that will float in the center of the reconstructed canal, imitating reeds floating on the water. Created by Port Talbot-born artist Grant Radford of Accent London and Cardiff-based composer Ella Roberts, the interactive experience is free to all and combines light and sound in an attempt to transport audiences from the bustling atmosphere of the city of Cardiff. center for a peaceful and magical space. The LED lights and sounds of the Welsh countryside come to life as you tap, jump or dance on the accessible interactive platforms located under canopy along the canal.

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The spectacular cultural addition to the Canal District is expected to encourage visitors to venture further into the city center where they can explore the wide range of businesses located around Churchill Way and the end of Queen Street. The attraction is sure to be a hit with families in the run-up to Christmas and will remain open after the festive period until the February school holidays.

“We are delighted to bring this new interactive experience to Cardiff, adding to the growing list of attractions on offer,” said Caroline Brownell, interim chief executive of FOR Cardiff. “We are delighted to introduce this new interactive experience to Cardiff, adding to the growing list of attractions on offer. “The bespoke installation is free for everyone to enjoy over the Christmas and New Year period and I hope it encourages more people to visit Cardiff and explore this revitalized area of ​​the city centre.”



The exhibition can be found on Churchill Way in Cardiff city center.



The attraction is free for everyone.

In the 1830s, the Dock Feeder ran from the River Taff at Blackwire and supplied water to Bute Dock so it could operate even at low tide and serve the Glamorganshire Canal, which brought steel and iron to the capital. It was closed after the main canal was closed and a road was built over it between 1948 and 1950, but has now been reopened and 69 of the 7.5-tonne concrete beams covering it have been removed.

Speaking at the opening of the canal last month, Cardiff council leader Hugh Thomas said: “I think everyone has recognized that over the last two decades there has been more attention and investment in the central and western parts of the city center and that it has been to the detriment of the eastern zone. We really want to do something about this, so invest in the channel and reopen it. What really inspires me is that we already know that there are many properties around the canal that companies are remodeling and reopening into cafes, restaurants and bars, helping to make commerce here successful. . “This is the first phase and we intend to continue opening further south and return vegetation and water to the city center.”

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