Sound in light festivals – finding the right harmony
Jean-François Zurawik, Director of the Fête des Lumières, City of Lyon
In theory, a light festival is not a musical festival. In order to contemplate certain visual works, silence is often necessary. But emotion can often be heightened by an original sound installation, or a particular sound design. The artistic programme of a light festival has to take into consideration cohabitation of the different works, with or without sound systems, and the balance to be achieved between setting up the best possible route for the public and respect for residents living near the installations.
Following an education in communication and audio-visual studies, Jean-Francois Zurawik created his own audio-visual production and event planning company in Strasbourg. His work has taken him throughout Europe, to North Africa, and the Middle-East. Since 2003, he has been managing the Events Department of the City of Lyon and takes care of the overall coordination of the Fête des Lumières.
