Image: 2023 highlight artwork – Liquid Geometry, Javier Riera. Lumiere 2023, produced by Artichoke. Photo by Matthew Andrews.

  • The UK’s light art biennial returns to Durham, November 13th – 15th November 2025
  • Invitation to local businesses and individuals to make a difference
  • £43m economic impact since 2009

Artichoke announces dates for Lumiere Durham 2025, the UK’s light art biennial and invites local businesses and individuals to make a difference. 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.

The hugely popular event will take place over three evenings this autumn, from Thursday 13th to Saturday 15th 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.

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.

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. Support from the North East Business Community enables this ambitious programme of community engagement activity to go ahead.

Thanks to our sponsors, Lumiere 2025 will offer new opportunities for the local community to take part in and develop skills, showcasing County Durham’s creativity on a national stage, and support the growth of North East’s next generation of creatives.

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 be part of the exciting 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.

Artichoke’s Development Director Ma’ayan Plane says: “To all our sponsors and supporters – your support has made Lumiere what it is today. This is your invitation to make a difference. Amidst falling arts and cultural funding, the North-East business community is a shining example of a community investing in world class arts events. Now more than ever, we need help from visionary businesses and individuals to bring Lumiere back to the North East in 2025.

Thank you to all our current supporters, and if you’d like to join them, please get in touch.”

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.

Sustainable Lumiere

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

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