At this point guided tours of festival attractions will begin.
The city-wide celebration of the meeting of art and technology kicks off at the University's Senate House with a live jazz band, magic from a Guinness record breaking illusionist, and speeches from the mayor of Cambridge, Cllr Paul Saunders, plus event organisers.
Ceremony timetable
7.00pm: Music and introductions
The launch begins with a live performance by jazz band, ‘Better than TV’ to warm up the crowd. This will be followed by an introduction to the festival and a speech from the Mayor.
7.35pm: Magical light entertainment
The Guinness World Record breaking escapologist and illusionist, Alexis Arts, will perform a specially-devised act that will begin with a series of light-inspired illusions, and culminate with an astonishing prediction – a feat which will finally reveal the mystery of the illuminated box that will have been hanging in the Grand arcade for weeks prior to the launch. This performance will also be a precursor to Alexis’ latest Guinness record-breaking attempt, which will take place within the city during the festival. Along with celebrated architectural projection artist, Ross Ashton, he intends to break the record for the largest projected, magical prediction in the world. The connection between the launch performance and the record attempt will be that some media professionals present at the launch will each be entrusted with a sealed envelope to protect until the record attempt, at which point they will be opened alongside a Guinness world record official to see if Alexis’ large scale prediction matches.
7.45pm: Final proceedings
To wrap up the launch, there will be a speech from the festival organiser, and also time to thank the host and the various sponsors of this free event and of the festival itself.
8pm: End
For the ful Festival programme, visit the website here.
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