I’m Cathy Mager, founder of Spectroscope — an artist and curator creating immersive experiences that connect people through art, technology, and storytelling.
My work explores the power of communication and the uncovering of hidden histories through large-scale projection, sound, and participation. I directed the BBC’s Sign Night (2020), a pioneering projection artwork featuring Deaf performers that illuminated city buildings during lockdown. Since then, my projection works have been shown worldwide — from Arnolfini for the Bristol Light Festival (2022) and the Duolun Museum of Modern Art, Shanghai (2022), to Science Gallery, King’s College London (2024), SuHe Haus, an Art Deco landmark in the heart of Shanghai (March 2025), and across Liverpool’s iconic Three Graces for DaDa Fest 2025. Most recently, my immersive film installation Finger Talk was shown at the Wellcome Collection (July–October 2025), and my new work in collaboration with Alice Hu, Night Bloom transformed Europe’s first 360° projection dome at Plymouth Market Hall (Oct–Nov 2025).
I’m passionate about reaching excluded and isolated communities and enabling them to play a meaningful role in something amazing. I believe in empowering young people to be creative leaders — artists and architects of public events that spark new ways of seeing heritage and culture.
Through Spectroscope, I bring together innovative teams of engineers, digital illusionists, artists, and architects to create spectacular performances, installations, and festivals. My work spans monumental outdoor sculptures to intimate front-room concerts, always finding new ways to invite public participation.
If you’re looking for someone to shape a creative vision and build a collaborative team to bring it to life, get in touch
Cathy Mager – Curator and Producer (History)
I have a 20 years of experience of bringing public spaces to life through art, heritage, and community engagement. I currently work as Consultant Curator at the Wellcome Collection.
From 2020–2024, Bristol Beacon, leading the National Lottery Heritage-funded The Lantern Project for the Bristol Beacon. Before that, I directed the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trust (2014–2021) and was Artistic Director of The Ring, a project exploring 21 miles of Worcestershire and Droitwich waterways, which won Best Large-Scale Art & Culture Project at the 2019 National Living Waterways Awards.
I began my career supporting disabled young people as a youth arts officer, then worked at Historic Royal Palaces on community programmes and exhibitions, including a ‘digital wishing well’ of youth poetry opened by HRH The Queen. As a curator at Art on the Underground, I created collaborative exhibitions across London and edited Kings Cross is Rising, a collection of poetry responding to the 7/7 bombings.
As a producer at Southbank Centre (2007–2012), I delivered projects including Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef, Pestival(Conservation Project of the Year, 2009), In from the Cold, Project Morrinho, Urban Fox, and co-curated Museum of ’51for the Festival of Britain’s 60th anniversary. My work there led to my selection as one of the Top 50 Women in UK Creative Industries in 2010.
I am a Clore Fellow (2021), Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a mentor, and served on the selection committee for Unlimited (2012–2019).