DURHAM’S winter light festival is to benefit from European culture funding, increasing the chance of it being another blazing success.
Lumiere first took place in 2009 and attracted 75,000 visitors to the city of Durham.
London-based event producers Artichoke were keen to put this year’s festival on an international footing so have linked it with popular light festivals in Poland and Estonia.
Artichoke successfully bid to the European Commission for money to commission three artists – one each from Poland, Estonia and the UK – to create a new piece of work to be shown at the two overseas festivals and at the second Lumiere in Durham later this year.
Artichoke spokeswoman Anna Vinegrad said yesterday that the European Commission had awarded 199,000 (about £170,000) to commission the artists to create a site-specific work for each of the three festivals.
It is the first time County Durham has received funding from the European Commission’s culture programme.
Arts Council England has already awarded £150,000 to Lumiere following the success of the inaugural event which generated an estimated £1.5m for the local economy.
Highlights of the 2009 festival included the dramatic lighting up of Durham Cathedral and lighting installations throughout the city centre.
The names of the commissioned artists who will display their work in Durham, Poland and Estonia in 2011 have not yet been revealed.
Ms Vinegrad said the Estonian festival, Valgus, was established in Tallin in 2000 and the Polish one, Skyway, in Torun in 2009.
“Linking up with them really ramps up the reputation of Lumiere on the international scene,” she said.
Simon Henig, leader of Durham County Council, said the announcement was good news for Durham and the wider area.
“The European funding is likely to have far-reaching beneficial consequences, generating wider national and international interest as well as attracting visitors to the region and creating local employment opportunities and economic benefits,” he said.
Alison Clark-Jenkins, regional director, Arts Council England, said: “The ambition of the city to bring Lumiere back to Durham will give more people the opportunity to experience great art.”
At a business briefing yesterday, representatives of North East sponsors Thorn Lighting and Northumbrian Water said they were delighted to be involved with the festival.
Lumiere will take place in Durham from November 17-20 featuring installations and performances.
