Industry News
Save the date! Lumiere Durham returns in 2025
Tuesday 28 January 2025. Artichoke has announced dates for Lumiere Durham 2025, the UK’s light art biennial. The hugely popular event will take place over three evenings this autumn, from Thursday 13 to Saturday 15 November 2025.
Produced and curated by Artichoke and commissioned by Durham County Council, Lumiere has attracted over 1.3 million visitors and boosted the local economy by more than £43 million since it began in 2009. Today it stands as a landmark event in the cultural calendar of the North East, and has put city and county on the international light art map.
For Lumiere’s 9th edition, a brand new programme promises to feed the imagination with magic and joy, transforming the city into an illuminated art gallery with spectacular artworks and exclusive commissions by UK and internationally renowned artists. This year, Lumiere 2025 will continue to enchant visitors and locals in a revised format, taking place over three evenings, from Thursday to Saturday, 13-15 November.
Beyond the lights, Lumiere’s established Learning & Participation programme and volunteering opportunities have benefitted over 14,000 local people and schoolchildren since 2009, inspiring ongoing artistic ideas and providing learning resources across the county. Lumiere 2025 offers new opportunities for the local community to take part in and develop skills, showcasing County Durham’s creativity on a national stage.
Inviting local businesses and individuals to make a difference
This year, with rising costs and funding challenges, the support of local businesses and individuals is more vital than ever.
Lumiere has always been a shared achievement—its success built on the commitment of visionary businesses. With arts funding under pressure, now is the time to invest in one of the North East’s most cherished cultural events. By partnering with Lumiere, businesses will gain multiple benefits that sponsorship of a world-class event can bring, as well as leave a legacy of opportunity, joy and inspiration for County Durham and beyond.
Artichoke is thrilled to welcome new major partners, Prima Cheese and Northern Powergrid, alongside longstanding supporters such as Durham University, EMG Solicitors, MGL Construction, Radisson Blu Durham, New College Durham, and Ramside Hall Hotel and Spa to help bring this landmark event to life in 2025.
For the third consecutive year, Point North (formerly County Durham Community Foundation), will amplify Lumiere’s impact through Northern Lights, their match fund, increasing selected sponsorships and contributions by up to 50%. It’s an incredible way for businesses to multiply their investment and directly support local communities to fight poverty and enrich lives across the North East.
There’s still time to play an exciting part in the Lumiere journey. Get in touch with Artichoke’s Development Director, Ma’ayan Plane (Ma'ayan.Plane@artichoke.uk.com), to help Lumiere shine even brighter in 2025.
Artistic Director of Artichoke, Helen Marriage says: “We’re so excited to be returning to Durham to programme the next edition of Lumiere, the landmark cultural event in the North East. As well as providing a unique platform for some of the world’s greatest artists, and giving everyone the chance to see great art, Lumiere has been consistent over the years in bringing tangible benefits to the local community, building the local economy and training local kids. It is made is possible only because of the amazing partnerships forged over the years with Durham County Council, Arts Council England and Durham’s local institutions and businesses who all invest in the event to bring wider benefits to the community.”
Cllr Amanda Hopgood, Leader of Durham County Council and portfolio holder for Culture, Creative, Tourism and Sport at the North East Combined Authority says, “Lumiere is a shining example of the transformative power of culture on our communities, our businesses and our wider economy. It has played a crucial role in establishing Durham as the Culture County, inspiring similar events across the world and continuing our long-standing tradition of innovation and investment in the arts. From the thousands of residents who have taken part in outreach activities, to the businesses that have benefited from the increased footfall, to the 1.3 million people who have been blown away by the spectacular light installations – the positive impact of Lumiere cannot be overstated.
“We're delighted to commission Artichoke and to work with partners including Arts Council England and generous sponsors to bring Lumiere to County Durham once again in 2025."
Lumiere Durham is a central pillar of The Culture County, the long-term creative regeneration strategy born out of the Durham 2025 UK City of Culture campaign.
To be the first to know what’s happening and learn about the 2025 programme, sign up to the newsletter at the event website, Lumiere-festival.com.
Artichoke is committed to addressing climate injustice and reducing the environmental impacts of all the work it produces. Lumiere artists pledge to support this work through the design of artworks, making responsible use of materials and ensuring works produced contribute to the circular economy through future touring. Key technical suppliers are chosen based on their sustainability commitments and work together with Artichoke to challenge established practice and plan the operational aspects of Lumiere as sustainably as possible. Continuing our work with industry experts, A Greener Future, Lumiere Durham 2025 will undertake a carbon impact assessment of the event to examine the success of the planning and to enable future editions of the light art biennial to further reduce emissions.
Local businesses and other partners already supporting include long-time Lumiere supporters as well as exciting, new first-time partnerships.
Lumiere 2025 Supporters
Commissioning Partners
- Arts Council England
- Durham County Council
Major Partners
- Durham University
- Point North
Event Partners
- Radisson Blu Hotel, Durham
- Ramside Hall Hotel
Major Supporters
- EMG Solicitors
- Northern Powergrid
- Prima Cheese
- MGL Group
Event Supporters
- New College Durham
- Sir James Knott Trust
- National Trust
Supporters
- Darlington Building Society 5% Pledge Fund
- Savoy Educational Trust
- Hadrian Trust
Silver Business Club Members
- Hargreaves Services
- Delta Hotels by Marriott Durham Royal County
- Lumley Castle