Come and see the sun at Bath Assembly Rooms before building work begins

The Assembly Rooms will open during the ReBalance Bath Festival of Wellbeing to display Luke Jerram's new installation Helios, a 7-metre sculpture of the sun.

From 30 Jan to 16 Feb, Bath Assembly Rooms will be open as part of ReBalance Bath – Festival of Wellbeing and is currently hosting Luke Jerram’s newest sculpture, Helios. This will be the only opportunity in 2025 for visitors to see the Assembly Rooms ahead of the construction phase of the restoration project starting in March. 

Helios is a brand-new 7-metre diameter sculpture by artist Luke Jerram which was unveiled to the public at Bath Assembly Rooms earlier this month. Helios, Ancient Greek for the sun, follows Luke’s previous celestial sculptures of ‘Gaia’, ‘Museum of the Moon’ and ‘Mars’. Helios fuses solar imagery, sunlight and a specially created surround sound composition, including NASA recordings of the sun, by Duncan Speakman and Sarah Anderson.  

“We were delighted to be the launch venue for Luke’s new artwork. The sun is so uplifting and often makes people feel better, especially at this time of year. It felt like the perfect opportunity to tie-in with Bath’s wellbeing festival and give people the opportunity to see the sun regardless of what the weather is doing outside.” said Alana Wright, Visitor Experience Manager at Bath Assembly Rooms.  

Additional activities will be running alongside Helios to give visitors different experiences, all under the sun. Visitors can dance the night away at a Silent Disco (Fri 31 Jan, 7.30pm), learn about the sun and try some solar gazing with Bath Astronomers during National Astronomy Week (Tue 4 - Thu 6 Feb, 12noon to 3pm). Alternatively work up a sweat with Clubbercise® at an easy-to-follow 45-minute dance workout with glow sticks (Mon 10 Feb, 7pm). More events to come including yoga and planetarium workshops. Full details of all events and pricing can be found on the website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/bath-bristol/bath-assembly-rooms/events. 

Alana went on to say, “We’re developing a really exciting line-up of additional events, all of which will take place under the sun or as part of seeing Helios. It provides such a unique setting and a one-off chance for people to experience Bath Assembly Rooms in a different way. All of this has only been possible as the chandeliers have gone off-site for conservation as part of our project works.” 

The National Trust took back the management of the Assembly Rooms in March 2023 and work began immediately planning and designing a new experience that will transport visitors back to the social scene of Georgian Bath in the late eighteenth century.  

As the project enters the construction phase, the property will close once Helios finishes at the end of February half-term. Contractors will then begin to restore this historic building and install the brand-new visitor experience. It’s estimated that the project work will take two years. 

Tom Boden, National Trust General Manager for the Bath portfolio commented, “This is a huge moment in the project timeline and a very exciting time. We’re closing on a high after such a wonderful art installation and look forward to breathing new life into this magnificent heritage building. When Bath Assembly Rooms reopens its doors in 2027, the restoration will bring a sense of the Georgian splendour from when it was first completed in 1771.” 

During the construction phase the property will reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and some of the splendour that was lost during the war will be reinstated.  Following the renovation works the new visitor experience will then be installed. The interactive experience will explore the allure of assembly, the chance and opportunity that came with attending a Georgian Ball.  

“We’re trying to capture the excitement and build-up that a ball would have brought to the streets of Bath in Georgian times. But we’ll be telling the whole story from those that prepared the rooms, performed on the night and all who would have attended. It was a place of opportunity for all, and we can’t wait to share these stories whilst also creating a space for modern day assembly.” added Tom.  

  

Helios will be on display from 12pm until 6pm from 30 Jan to 16 Feb as part of the ReBalance Bath Festival. It will remain on display during February half-term from 17 – 23 Feb for families to come and see. Free for National Trust members, for non-members £5 per adult and £2.50 per child over 5. Additional programming will be charged separately, to view all events visit: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/bath-bristol/bath-assembly-rooms/events