We’re absolutely thrilled to announce that the stunning artwork Helios will be installed at Jubilee Pool for three weeks from Monday 19th January to Sunday 8th February — a world-first for a pool setting, and the perfect way to get your dose of Vitamin D to banish any winter blues!
Created by internationally acclaimed artist Luke Jerram, and following on from his successful astronomical Museum of the Moon and Gaia exhibitions, Helios is a touring artwork of the Sun that’s a fusion of solar imagery, animated lighting and a specially created surround sound composition. Measuring five metres in diameter, it features 72dpi detailed imagery of the Sun’s surface at an approximate scale of 1:278 million, meaning each centimetre of the internally lit spherical sculpture represents 2780km of the Sun. Read more here about how Helios was created.
This is the first time that Helios has ever been exhibited over a pool, which will offer a unique way to experience the artwork from both the water and the land.
“We’re so excited that Luke has chosen Jubilee Pool for this world-first way of displaying Helios,” says Jules Laming, chair of Friends of Jubilee Pool. “Jubilee’s curved Art Deco windows already cast sunlight across the water in a beautiful way, and we can’t wait to see how Helios complements this. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to showcase our community-run pool so even more people in Bristol can see what a special place it is.”
Luke Jerram says: “I’m really excited by the opportunity to present Helios in a swimming pool for the first time and allow people to swim beneath it. While I work as an artist both nationally and internationally, I’m also a Bristol-based artist, so I’m pleased that this artwork can be used to support my local community-led pool.”
All money raised from Helios will go into the fundraising pot for our roof repairs and adding solar panels — part of our ongoing capital works to restore and maintain our magnificent building and pool.
Buying tickets for Helios
We’re offering special early morning and late night sessions so you can enjoy this unique artwork in all its glory. During these, the main lights will be dimmed, there won’t be any lane ropes, the sculpture will be lit up and music will be playing. These swims are priced at £8. If you prefer to see it from the land, you can get spectator tickets for £3.
Helios will also be on display for all our usual lane and leisure swims plus aquafit classes and swimming lessons, but will not be lit up. People swimming during these times will not be able to take photographs, as per our usual pool policy. There are also no spectators allowed poolside during these usual sessions.
Before you buy tickets, please note the following:
No refunds or swaps
The event is being run by a small team of volunteers, many with day jobs, and so we don’t have the capacity to process refunds or swaps. It is a charity fundraiser for the pool. Please take extra care when choosing the date, time and type of visit you plan to make.
All times are 12-hour clock with am or pm denoting morning or evening
Jubilee Pool remains an operational swimming pool while we display Helios, meaning that we still have sessions including lane swimming, school swimming and aqua aerobics. We cannot have additional viewing visitors while these sessions are on, so the Helios sessions are often early in the morning or after the usual timetable has finished in the evening, often right up until midnight. Please choose your time carefully, ensuring that you have checked whether it is in the morning or the evening.
Changes to buying tickets in week three
Due to feedback from people confusing swims and poolside viewings, we have now separated these out into two different events for week three to make it clear which tickets you are buying. We have also updated the way you choose your date and time for your visit, hopefully making it clearer.
- Choose the right link depending on whether you want to swim, or just come along to view
Helios. - Press the Get tickets button
- Select the date and time you’d like to visit.
Important: You can only buy tickets for one slot; if you’d like to buy more tickets for different
times, please repeat the whole process.
Important: Please check whether you are buying morning or evening tickets.
- Enter the number of tickets you’d like, add an optional donation, then press continue.
Important: The time you are buying tickets for is highlighted in the image below. If you change your mind before checking out and would like to buy a ticket for a different time, then click on the small
calendar icon highlighted in the image below.
- Checkout — double check the date, time and number of tickets before proceeding to enter
your personal information, ticking consent boxes and continuing to payment.
Buy swimming tickets for week three (2nd-8th Feb) here.
Buy spectator (non swimming) tickets for week three (2nd-8th Feb) here.
Supporting Helios at Jubilee
We’d love your help and support to make Helios an amazing success. You can do this by:
- Buying tickets!
Come and see Helios in all its glory. - Telling your friends and family
After it leaves Jubilee, Helios will be heading all the way up to Manchester so this is Bristolians’ chance to see it in our home city! - Volunteering
If you can help run the sessions, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact hello@fojp.co.uk. - Spreading the word on social media!
Share posts from our Facebook and Instagram pages about the event and tag any photos of your visit to Helios with these hashtags: #HeliosAtJubileePool #Helios #LukeJerram #JubileePoolBristol #communitypool #whatsonbristol #bristolart
Frequently asked questions
- I’m a member and/or regular pool user, so what does all this mean for me?
As a member/regular pool user you will be able to take part in all the usual lane and leisure swim sessions and aquafit classes. The extra Helios swims will be chargeable for members. Thanks for your understanding.
During regular swim and aquafit sessions, Helios will be visible but not lit up and there won’t be music playing. Spectators won’t be allowed poolside during these regular sessions. No photographs can be taken, in line with our usual photography policy.
During special Helios sessions, there are no lane ropes, the sculpture will be lit up and music will be playing, so you can truly enjoy the sculpture in all its glory. When you buy tickets you’ll have to sign a disclaimer to let us know you are happy that photography and video will be taking place. Poolside spectators (non swimmers) will also be present during these sessions.
- My children have swimming lessons, will these be affected?
Swimming lessons will run as normal. As above, the sculpture won’t be lit up and there won’t be any music playing. External spectators will not be allowed into the pool area to see Helios during swimming lessons, but parents and carers will be able to enjoy it while children do their lesson! As per our usual policy, there will be no photography during swimming lessons.
- Is there parking?
We do not have a car park. There is limited on-street residential parking around the pool — please be aware of local residents when choosing where to park. Jubilee Pool is easy to access on foot, by bus and by bike. We have covered cycle parking at the front.
- Are pushchairs allowed?
Please leave pushchairs under our covered bike park.
- Can I take photos and videos?
Yes, of course! And don’t forget to tag on social media using the hashtags above.
- Can I bring food and drink?
No, we politely ask that you do not eat and drink inside the pool area.
- I’ve booked the wrong date/can’t make my session. Can I swap it or get a refund?
As a volunteer-run organisation we unfortunately don’t have the capacity to sort refunds or swap sessions. As mentioned above, please be very careful when booking to make sure you have chosen the correct time. You are very welcome to pass on your tickets to someone else — we’re sure you’ll know someone who’d love to take them!