A huge light artwork telling the story of city's centenary and future is set to be projected onto a Stoke-on-Trent town hall as part of a series of free interactive light installations.

'Message In A Bottle Kiln' will be projected onto Hanley Town Hall as part of the free two-night Light Up Hanley event, presented by Creative People and Places programme Appetite, which will take place in Albion Square on 3 and 4 February from 5pm to 8pm.

Created by artists Illuminos, the artwork will use animation and sound to bring the past century to life and look forward to the next 100 years using the vision of the city's future described by young people from Stoke-on-Trent College, Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College and Pinc College.

Artist Rob Vale, of Illuminos, said: "We have worked with young people from Stoke-on-Trent imagining with them what they would place in a bottle kiln to send forwards into the future, and the wonderful transformations that might take place in the process.

"Weaving the young people's ideas into a vision of the next 100 years of Stoke-on-Trent, the Town Hall will come alive with the power and heat of the kilns, morphing and transforming as spitfires turn to space travel, ceramics merge with silicon, melodies soar and treasures delight."

The event, which is part of Appetite's Light Up Winter series, will also feature a multi-sensory musical sculpture made up of more than 200 illuminated chime bars and a five-metre-high fortune-telling fruit machine, as well as roaming performers.

The new owner of the Town Hall, Simon Edwards, of ELS Holdings, added: "The Town Hall is an iconic building in the city and it will be great to see it animated in this way.

"Projects like this show how historic buildings can play an active role in the life of the city today, connecting heritage with creativity and future ambition. We are delighted that the Town Hall is part of this fantastic event."

The Light Up Winter series began with Light Up Middleport on 21 and 22 January, and will conclude with Newcastle under Light outside the Guildhall on 4 March from 6pm to 9pm.

This event will see a projection celebrating local people and places, a forest-inspired installation exploring breath and breathing together, and giant inflatable creatures that respond to hugs and squeezes.

Appetite Interim Director Heather Dowler said: "Our Light Up Winter series is about creating moments of joy, wonder and shared experiences in our communities.

"Light Up Hanley is a free and welcoming event, and a chance to come together on winter evenings to see familiar places in a completely new light."

Light Up Winter is funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England's Creative People and Places programme, with additional support from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, Denise Coates Foundation and Middleport Matters.

The series is delivered in partnership with Middleport Matters, Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID, Newcastle-under-Lyme BID and Stoke Creates.

The Light Up Winter events are free to attend with no booking required and refreshments will be available to purchase.

British Sign Language tours will be available at each location and will need pre-booking by contacting [email protected].