A Norwich organisation that produces sensory theatre for adult and young adult audiences with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD) has been selected to appear in a striking new art installation at Trafalgar Square in London. 

Frozen Light is one of five local initiatives represented in a unique piece of art unveiled by singer and actress Alexandra Burke and commissioned by The National Lottery.

The anamorphic artwork, created from 636 lottery balls, spells out the word ‘CHANGE’ when viewed from a specific angle which has been created to inspire change and to encourage the public to think about how they might use some of the £30million raised for good causes each week by National Lottery players.

It is one of four pieces of artwork that The National Lottery plans to unveil this week across the UK as part of its 27th birthday celebrations and represents the 636,000 projects funded since 1994.

Once all four pieces have been unveiled, they will form the message ‘BUILD DREAMS, CREATE CHANGE’ to bring to life the results that can be achieved through National Lottery funding.

The theatre company was set up by Artistic Director’s Lucy Garland and Amber Onat Gregory in 2013. They have already created six exciting and original multi-sensory shows for audiences with PMLD, which they have toured in 70 different venues across the UK. 

The work they produce provides a chance for their audiences to feel connected in a world that doesn't offer up many opportunities.

Frozen Light have been awarded £192,486 worth of TNL funding over the past three years, and in December 2020 were able to continue their tour around the UK reaching a wider audience who have been affected by PMLD thanks to this. 

Artistic Director Garland, 37, said: “We have been so lucky over the years with project grants from The National Lottery and Arts Council England. 

“Without them, we wouldn't be able to exist as a company. They help us create high-quality work that we can tour throughout the country to make sure we reach a lot of audience members with profound and multiple learning disorders. 

“To be recognised as one of five projects across the country that the National Lottery is proud to be funding, that's amazing for us. 

“It's also incredible what this will do for our audiences - we are advocating for them - and it shines a light and visibility on the need for our audience and on sensory theatre.” 

The installations have been created by leading arts collective Greyworld and inspired by National Lottery funded projects. Each installation has been made from more than 636 National Lottery balls, which represent the 636,000 and more organisations that benefit from the funding across the sports, art, heritage, and community sectors. 

Ealing Times: Included in the artwork are five unique objects that represent the following five beneficiaries from England that have been supported by National Lottery funding, including the Frozen Light Theatre which is being represented by theatre maskIncluded in the artwork are five unique objects that represent the following five beneficiaries from England that have been supported by National Lottery funding, including the Frozen Light Theatre which is being represented by theatre mask

Included in the artwork are five unique objects that represent the following five beneficiaries from England that have been supported by National Lottery funding, including the Frozen Light Theatre which is being represented by theatre mask.

Among the other artefacts donated by local projects are a sportsball on behalf of Sporting Memories, a nationwide programme which uses remembrance and sports activities to support people with dementia, loneliness and depression; an NHS lanyard for the NHS at 70, which is the first digital archive of the service’s history since it was founded in 1948; a film clapper board for The Box on The Box in Plymouth which was an initiative set up during the first lockdown last year to prevent isolation among the elderly through screening archive film footage directly into care homes; and a peace symbol for Every Victim Matters who supports victims of hate crimes and racism in the South West. 

Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Chair of the National Lottery Forum, says: “For 27 years National Lottery funding has been transforming communities, turning dreams into reality and making life better for millions of people. As we emerge from what has been a desperately challenging time, we want to inject hope and encourage communities to imagine what they could achieve with a helping hand from The National Lottery. With £30million raised for good causes each week, we have grants available from £3,000 to £5million. By coming together as communities, and as a nation, we can build, dream and create to change our future for the better and for generations to come.”

The London installation will be available to view on 18th November, with other installations being revealed in Antrim Castle Gardens in Antrim, the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, and the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh. 

To find out more about National Lottery funding go to https://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/funding