WAKEFIELD.- The back garden of The Orangery has been transformed this summer by Swing It!, an interactive outdoor art installation commissioned by arts charity Beam. Open 11 July - 30 September, this exciting new artwork for Wakefield created by renowned artists Morag Myerscough and Luke Morgan offers a unique experience in the heart of the city, encouraging play, creativity, and inspiration.

Swing It! includes bespoke vividly coloured and patterned swings and moving seats at ground level. Their momentum, specially made mechanical handles, and sheer wind power make signs and banners move brightly overhead. The eye-catching hand-painted signs can be seen at street level and feature words and phrases, which recall people’s memories and experiences of ‘play’. Audiences and passersby are invited to come and join in, recollect, create and be inspired. Admission is free.

The artists behind Swing It! are London-based Morag Myerscough and Luke Morgan who have recently won multiple awards for the creation of the Movement café, Greenwich, London - part of a series of artist commissions to coincide with the 2012 Olympic Games.

Artists Morag Myerscough and Luke Morgan commented: “We believe in the power of play, so when we were asked to look at this project in The Orangery garden it brought back memories of long summer days of freedom and joy. We wanted to create a place that enabled peoples’ imaginations to run away…”

Beam’s Creative Director, Robert Powell added: “It’s fantastic to welcome artists of Morag and Luke’s international reputation to Wakefield and The Orangery as part of Beam’s ‘Playful City’ arts commissioning and learning programme. We’re looking forward to welcoming visitors to The Orangery this summer to enjoy the ‘Swing It!’ installation alongside a host of other creative events and activities.”

Throughout the summer visitors can enjoy the tranquil green space of The Orangery gardens, including the licensed Orangery Café as part of an exciting programme of cultural events including the Secret Garden Outdoor Cinema showing a series of classics and modern classics and a regular Friday night ‘Music and Food Collisions’ with guest appearances by musicians and invited street food vendors from the region.

Swing It! is supported by Arts Council England and Wakefield Council and is part of ‘Playful City’, a year-long programme of artistic commissioning and learning activities for creatives, local communities, families, and young people. Beam is an arts, architecture and education charity

which programmes the Grade II* listed Orangery, a historic hidden gem and cultural facility with a fascinating and varied history right next to the mainline Wakefield Westgate train station.

Admission to Swing It! is free. Please visit www.the-orangery.uk.net for more information and details about the artwork and summer programme.