The iconic Mirror Ball on the South Promenade has been taken down this week for a full refurbishment. Preparations for the work started on Monday 23 November.
The artwork was created by artist Michael Trainor and is reputed to be the world’s biggest Mirror Ball being 6m in diameter. The artist was inspired by and named the work after the 1969 Hollywood film ‘They Shoot Horses Don’t They’ which features a large Mirror Ball. It was originally installed in 2002 as one of a series of commissioned artworks known as The Great Promenade Show. The original works included the bronze sculptures ‘Life is a Circus’ by Sir Peter Blake which are now on permanent display in the reception of Blackpool Council’s office in Bickerstaffe Square.
The refurbishment project will be undertaken by a number of partners including the council’s own Illuminations team at the Lightworks and art students from Blackpool and the Fylde College.
The refurbishment will see the structure completely re-mirrored and an overhaul of the internal bearings that ensure it can rotate in full circle once a minute. The Mirror Ball will be returned to the promenade for the summer season in 2021 with the works taking six months. It will involve removing and replacing 47,000 mirror tiles and using 1,000 tubes of tile adhesive.
Cllr Gillian Campbell, Blackpool Council’s Cabinet Member for Tourism and Culture, said: “The Mirror Ball is much loved by local people and visitors and is an iconic landmark on the South Promenade. Our natural environment is beautiful but inevitably the sea salt air takes its toll on the mirror tiles over a long period of time. We look forward to the Mirror Ball returning to sparkle for people to enjoy.”
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