IlluminationsAn Exploration of Light: Installations by Bruce Munro at Longwood Gardens

The Garden at NightIt begins with goose-bumps suddenly racing across your skin. A cool breeze from the western woods whispers forth from the depths of the forest, and you realize that your clear-blue ceiling has begun to soften to a gentle, pink and orange ether. As the sun lays to rest behind the Atlas Cedars, your pupils begin to expand, quintupling in size and perceiving a new palate of hues which lend shape to the foreign world you’ve just been transported. In a matter of mere minutes, you’ve been ferried on the wings of moths and crickets from the naturally inspirational beauty of Longwood Gardens into an entirely different, mysterious world apart.

The exhibit was truly breathtaking and wonderful. If possible, it adds even more magic and wonder to the beauty of Longwood.

In the summer of 2012, British Light artist Bruce Munro made his American debut by illuminating Longwood Gardens with Light, an installation of thousands of radiant lights, fiber optics, blown glass, and re-imagined materials. These glowing emanations, products of human ingenuity and surprising, inspirational moments from Munro’s life, interwove with the natural landscape and flora of Longwood to heighten the alluring nighttime experience of this enchanted grove.

Deep-rooted members and first-time guests were drawn in record numbers to experience the magic which Light ignited at twilight. Coupled with the everlasting beauty of the Gardens’ vision, mission, and values, and Munro’s seamlessly executed installation, guests left together in a transformed community of curiosity.

Most illuminating, they’ll be coming back.

Light Attendance: A Record YieldWhat will bring guests back? It is the insight and lifeblood of thousands of destinations around the world—that new and sometimes temporary installations, can and will harken a burst in attendance, and also carry a long-term rise in average attendance. Particularly with a debut of a relatively unknown artist, it can sometimes be a nervous gamble. How many people will come? Have we attracted new audiences? Will they return after the exhibit closes?

Light shines in all aspects.

The Light installation is awesome!!! We cannot wait to come back for more visits.

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2012Light AttendanceJune 9–September 29 Wednesday–Saturday

2011AttendanceJune 9–September 29Wednesday–Saturday

Light AttendAnce numberS June 9–September 29, 2011 / 2012Light was on view Wednesday–Saturday

members Visitors

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June 9–September 29, 2012 Light AttendAnce

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43%

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The first reaction inevitably is a gasp. To wander twilight trails during the installation of British artist Bruce Munro’s Light is to experience nighttime magic, Longwood style. It’s a stunning experience, easier felt than explained. —philadelphia inquirer

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13% 15 minutes = Local

45% 1 hour = South eastern pennsylvania

17% 2 hour = new Jersey

9% 3 hours = central pennsylvania

16% more than 3 hours

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AVerAge dAiLy AttendAnce numberS for Light June 9–September 29, 2011 / 2012Light was on view Wednesday–Saturday,

2012 June 9–September 29 daily Average for Light

2011June 9–September 29daily Average

15 minS13%

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In the end, Munro’s Light exhibit... is right on point, honoring du Pont’s vision for a space that at once celebrates horticulture and culture, the natural world and humans’ impact upon it. —Washington times

Growing the BusinessThe execution of Light in all aspects—installation, interpretation, programming, and promotion—nurtured an impressive increase in attendance and revenue, despite the warmer nights of 2012.

Revenue generated from admissions during this period was 51% higher than the same time in 2011, more than half a million dollars. And as more people poured in through the gates to experience the wonder, they were hungrier and bought more keepsakes to remember the adventure by as a whole.

In looking at the complete picture, the pieces of the pie are strong independently – admission, restaurant, and gift shop—but once assembled, do they still paint such a beautiful story of Munro’s garden at night?

They do.

While tens of thousands of people became immersed and inspired by everything from the Forest Walk to the Meadow at Hourglass Lake, none were more important, or more impressed, than the members.

So civilized. So ‘Gatsby.’ So beautiful.

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Admission membership restaurant gift Shop total revenue

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Light reVenue June 9–September 29, 2011 / 2012

The Value of Commitment: Our MembersExclusivity. It is a powerful, motivating force. The ability to feel appreciated, honored, cared for by someone outside of your circle of friends or family is a rare treat, and is a lasting memory.

The warm, late spring night of June seventh welcomed members and their guests for a sneak preview of Light, complete with guided tours, music, and plenty of exclusivity. The allure was a staggering success. 3,483 members, 1,498% more than the same night last spring, poured into the Gardens. Something was in the air at Longwood Gardens.

Both new and established members were equally enthralled by Longwood Gardens’ hosting of Light. Summer 2012 saw a fantastic growth in its membership ranks, in addition to its long-standing members, who liken Longwood Gardens to their own back yard, having attended for years, even decades, and know every petal and blossom. Membership’s excitement was not sprung simply from novice exposure to the Gardens—even the longest-standing proponents recognized that this was an entirely new way to explore nature and its wonder, and were elated to learn that it was being globally pioneered by their own Longwood Gardens.

I really enjoyed the members-only Light exhibit. It was incredibly beautiful, very professional and classy and not overcrowded at all. As members, we appreciate those special extra offerings. It makes us want to continue to be members and support Longwood for as long as we can. Thank you.

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memberShip reVenue during Light June 9–September 29, 2011 / 2012

Munro is to fiber optics, you might say, as Dale Chihuly is to blown glass and Christo to wrapped fabric, an artist whose outdoor installations intensify their subject landscapes. — Washington post

I was so impressed this visit, I decided to sign up for a membership on the spot! Can’t wait to see Longwood in every season!

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neW memberS June 9–September 29

AVerAge dAiLy member ViSitS for Light June 9–September 29 WedneSdAy–SAturdAy

totAL member AttendAnce for Light June 9–September 29 WedneSdAy–SAturdAy

The Perceived Value of LightIn essence, are guests happy they came?

One of the most insightful and simplest questions we can ask to understand value is, “would you recommend visiting Longwood Gardens to a friend?” 99% of everyone who came to Light would recommend Longwood Gardens to their friends.

Most explorers to Light were adults who brought a companion along, as well as at least one school-aged child. This could be attributable to the caliber of the staff and wealth of knowledge shared throughout Longwood Gardens, as 98% of guests found the staff to be friendly and informative, and most scored the educational value of the Gardens a 4.3 out of five (above “very good”). These aspects of the Light experience truly bolstered Longwood’s mission to both excite and educate.

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WouLd you recommend ViSiting LongWood gArdenS to A friend?

The Light installations were the most amazing sight. I would go see them over and over. What a wonderful exhibition and great use of gardens at night. I noticed so many families walking and enjoying the night together and was pleased to see that at Longwood (in a garden) rather than an amusement park or arcade. Congratulations on getting people outside and loving it!

Take yourself to Philadelphia and head a short distance west to Longwood Gardens, the pinnacle of great gardening... It will not only be a nice day. It will be one of the greatest garden days of your life. — financial times

Light was an amazing experience. We were mesmerized by the Forest, the Meadow, and Italian Water Garden; and on our tired way home, made a list of friends who would enjoy the exhibit.

Opportunities to learn, discover and grow were bountiful for both adults and children alike throughout the course of the installation. Light Nights brought families together on select Friday evenings to create their own light-themed sculptures, explore the night-time constellations and nocturnal insects, and enjoy special musical guests. SmART Nights brought guests together on select Thursday evenings to attend lectures by various esteemed professors regarding light’s impact on various aspects of our lives, and to enjoy moving StorySlams. Lastly, continuing education grew guests’ understanding of plants that bloom at night, twilight photography, and lessons in botany.

Delivering an extraordinary guest experience is at Longwood’s core. Light cemented that in concert with the Gardens creating and delivering innovative programming and providing world-class service.

Longwood Gardens delivered on its promise of an enchanted grove that transports guests through a multi-sensory experience so different from their complicated, daily worlds. The exhibit itself, magnificent. But if the basic needs and amenities weren’t met, guests may have been too distracted to enjoy Light, and would have left with negative reviews. That was clearly not the case. Through a shared vision and purposeful augmentation by both artist and Gardens’ staff, Light delivered on the promises of Bruce Munro’s designs and the promotion around the exhibition.

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3,088 Android doWnLoAdS

Digital Seeds:New Technology As Bruce Munro’s installations illuminated the fountains, ponds, and gardens, new technological advancements at Longwood Gardens placed illumination in the palms of guests’ hands. The guest experience blossomed by introducing a smartphone app, which permitted twilight explorers to plan their trip, investigate their favorite exhibits further as they stood in their glow, and create a community in the digital world in real time as they shared their experiences. Volunteers and staff were empowered along the Gardens’ walkways with digital tablets, providing powerful sources of enhanced interpretative information and navigation. Lastly, a well-cultivated social media campaign successfully promoted Light while providing an excellent community with which to share responses and learn from feedback.

Longwood Gardens leveraged its social media prowess to foster a community around the mysterious and intriguing installation. Many guests, having experienced something deeply moving and ethereal throughout the installations, left at the end of their visit filled with questions, ideas, inspirations, and dialogue they were deeply driven to share.

The Light installation was amazing. One of the most unique and compelling art exhibitions that I have ever seen in the US or abroad.

Lessons from LightLight: Installations by Bruce Munro at Longwood Gardens is a fantastical execution of creative, human ingenuity inspired by a life of travel and relationships, coupled with the integration of the natural beauty and mystery of the nighttime landscape. It took an abundance of volunteers hundreds of hours to assemble the tens of thousands of lights and re-imagined, recyclable materials to create the enchanted garden that lured guests out of the blurry lights of the city and into the beautiful glowing stars of the twilight garden.

Light was welcomed into Longwood Gardens as a shining cornerstone of their mission. As the Gardens continue to inspire people through excellence in garden design, horticulture, education and the arts in the legacy of Pierre S. du Pont, it progresses daily to enrich the lives of its guests through life-changing, wondrous experiences. Light has been a vibrant addition to that portfolio of enrichment with many more innovative experiences to come.

A show that most spectacularly brings together art and nature. —dallas forth Worth news

Light by the Numbers41,399,147 Media impressions across the globe

4,744,128 Admissions, Membership, restaurant, and gift shop revenue during June 9–September 29, 2012

290,848 Light attendees (Wednesday–Saturday)

65,000 Recycled CDs used in Waterlilies

30,804 Views on YouTube of “Light: Installations by Bruce Munro”

27,000 Illuminated flower stems throughout the Field and Forest of Light

17,388 1-litre recycled plastic bottles in Water Towers

15,047 Total downloads of the Light smartphone app

5,290 New members during Light

4,341 Average daily attendance during Light

3,493 Miles Bruce Munro traveled from England to America to install Light

1,650 Droplets of twinkling light in Light Shower

276 Hours to assemble Water Towers

235 Miles of bare optic fiber in Light

127 Glass orbs in Snowballs

125 Volunteers who helped install the exhibition

99 Percentage of guests who would recommend Light to their friends

78 Percentage of total increase in revenue

69 Glowing towers in Water Towers

68 Percentage of total increase in attendance

42 Percentage of guests driving at least one hour to visit Light

23 Acres of Longwood Gardens covered by Light

4.6 Average score out of five for overall guest satisfaction with Light

0 Times Light has appeared elsewhere in North America

© 2012, Longwood gardens longwoodgardens.org

Longwood gardens is the living legacy of pierre S. du pont, inspiring people through excellence in garden design, horticulture, education, and the arts