Durham is a shining light for the arts
There is something beautifully unique about Durham, and that’s what makes it the perfect backdrop to the biennial Lumiere event.
Almost a quarter of a million people turned out to see the spectacular sights of the UK’s largest light festival, which featured a staggering 29 installations across the city.
“It’s easy to talk about the metrics: the number of people who come to see the festival, the number of jobs it creates, the publicity it generates and the inward investment it attracts,” said Helen Marriage artistic director and C.E.O. at Artichoke, the arts charity behind Lumiere and the UK’s leading producers of art in the public realm.
“But all that stuff isn’t as important as the joy, delight and camaraderie you see when people come out to share the streets together.”
Lumiere plays host to artists from around the world, placing an international spotlight on the city.
“It places Durham’s architecture at its heart. What you are seeing is the city through the prism of the artists’ eyes, and artists are very special people, they can imagine things the rest of us can’t,” said Helen.
This year’s installations included Our Moon, by the British artist Hannah Fox, which was projected onto Durham Castle. Every evening a different moon smiled, blinked, twitched or frowned upon the city; representing childhood, youth, maturity and wisdom.
Entre Les Rangs, by Canada’s Rami Bebawi of architectural company Kanva, was installed in the Cathedral cloister, where thousands of illuminated stems resembled a field of shimmering wheat. Saddler Street and the Market Place were transformed by the sparkling structures of Dome and Arches, a creation of Italian architectural lighting company Luminarie De Cagna.
Looking back, Helen remembered her search for a venue for the light festival in 2009, and knowing as soon as she arrived in Durham that she had struck gold.
“I got off the train and saw that panoramic view of the city. The way the architecture interacts with the landscape and the river. I could instantly see how it would work,” said Helen.
“Durham is a remarkable place. I went to speak to the University, the Cathedral and the prison and said what we wanted to do. Everyone wanted to take part. It was absolutely brilliant.”
That was in the April, and six months later, 75,000 people turned out for the first Lumiere.
“I couldn’t believe it. It was amazing,” said Helen, “We were asked to come back in two years and we have been back every two years since.”
Lumiere’s success has spread, and the team held their first London show in 2016, with the follow-up planned for next January.
“We always emphasise that the concept originated in Durham, but the London festival is quite different. It’s a different place. It’s not so intimate because you are dealing with really big architecture,” explained Helen.
Durham County Council, which commissions the festival, is extremely proud of its success.
Cllr Simon Henig, leader of Durham County Council, said: "Lumiere offers us the chance to showcase our beautiful city, our unique history and heritage and our wonderful people on a world stage.
"Together the five editions of the festival have seen more than 800,000 people counted through the peninsula entry points alone and I anticipate that the £21 million in economic benefits delivered by the first four festivals will rise significantly once we evaluate the 2017 edition.
“Around 1,300 people also had the chance to be part of the event thanks to the community outreach programme, which can provide life-changing opportunities.”
As part of the county council’s Celebrating Durham campaign, it is running a competition to win a luxury seven night break for four to County Durham. Find out how to enter here