What is Light of Stars?
A large-scale illuminated installation created by Paper Starlights.
Light of Stars is a handcrafted light installation for cathedrals, heritage buildings and public spaces, developed around the architecture and the people who use it.
Created by British company Paper Starlights, the project brings thirty years of paper craft into remarkable public buildings at architectural scale.
Bath Abbey, 2024/25
Designed for Bath Abbey.
Light of Stars remained in place through Advent and into the New Year, becoming part of ordinary opening, services, concerts and the Abbey's wider seasonal programme.
More than 70 handmade stars were arranged through the nave in response to its height, sightlines, stonework and stained glass. The architecture stayed visible and the life of the building continued below.
The result was a distinct seasonal identity that belonged to Bath Abbey and its setting.
“What an inspirational sight. Such beauty in simplicity. Stunning. Capturing the message of Advent and Christmas. This will be a memory which stays with everyone.”Bath Abbey clergy
Upcoming installation · winter 2026/27
Leicester Cathedral
Leicester Cathedral is building a season around Light of Stars, combining everyday visiting and worship with talks, music, film, dance, heritage activity, community events and after-hours experiences.
It shows what becomes possible once the installation is in place: one visual setting, many different audiences and reasons to return.
A long-standing Paper Starlights philosophy
Under the Same Sky of Stars.
Under the Same Sky of Stars has long expressed why Paper Starlights works with stars: they can create common ground between people of different faiths, generations and backgrounds.
Light of Stars takes that philosophy into public buildings. Worship, music, community activity, learning, celebration and quiet reflection can all happen beneath one installation, creating a thread between different experiences across a whole season.
Different people. Different reasons for gathering. Under the same stars.
One shared season
A project can bring different parts of a venue together.
The installation can provide one clear visual thread while different teams keep doing what they do best.
Services, seasonal themes and moments of reflection can respond to the stars while the everyday identity of the building remains clear.
Choirs, concerts, dance, talks and evening events gain a shared setting across the season.
Schools, community groups, faith partners and local organisations can take part through workshops, activity and programming.
Daytime visiting can sit alongside evening openings, hospitality, ticketed events and other programmed activity.
Designed around the place
The building remains the main character.
The installation is designed to reveal the character of the space, support the way it is used and give visitors a new reason to look around them.
Scale, height, sightlines and historic features shape the composition, drawing attention into the building.
Services, visits, performances, learning and events can continue while the installation remains in place.
The installation gives venues a visual setting for performances, talks, community activity and special events across the season.
Access, hanging positions, rigging responsibilities, lighting, installation and removal are considered with the venue and technical partners as the project develops.
Film
See Light of Stars in the space.
The film shows the installation in use, its scale within Bath Abbey, the handmade construction and the story behind the stars.
Events Under the Stars™
A whole season can grow around the installation.
Once Light of Stars is in place, it can become the setting for performance, learning, community activity, hospitality and ticketed events.
Events Under the Stars™ is the programming strand of the project, focused on how venues can use the installation across a wider season and create additional reasons to visit.
Created by Paper Starlights
Thirty years of craft behind the installation.
Paper Starlights has worked with skilled makers in India since 1996. The stars are made by hand using traditional screen printing and folding processes, then brought together at a different scale for Light of Stars.
Visit Paper StarlightsPress & project news
Official project information and media resources.
Now taking bookings
Light of Stars bookings are open for 2028 and 2029.
If you are considering a future installation, a few photographs, approximate dimensions, likely dates and a note about what normally happens in the space are enough for a useful first conversation.