CREATIVE people are being invited to design an installation for Durham’s famous Lumiere light festival this year.

Lumiere, which is scheduled to take place in Durham City over four nights in November, will again feature artworks by a host of internationally-renowned artists.

And event producers Artichoke wants creative individuals to share their bright ideas for transforming the city’s urban landscape using the medium of light.

Six winners will then work with experts to create and install their artwork alongside those of established artists, from Thursday, November 18 to Sunday, 21, and receive a fee.

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The £50,000 nationwide commissioning scheme, called BRILLIANT, is usually just for people based in the North-East but this time is open to people aged 18 or over from anywhere in the UK.

Three commissions are still reserved for people in the region but organisers hope to attract and showcase talent from across the nations and are particularly keen to broaden the diversity of those working in light art so are encouraging those who identify as d/deaf and disabled and black or of colour to apply.

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Councillor Simon Henig, leader of Durham County Council, which commissions the festival with support from Arts Council England and other funders, said: “BRILLIANT is a fantastic opportunity for people in the North-East, and now the whole of the UK, to have their work featured in the UK’s most prestigious light art festival.

“Lumiere gives them a stage on which to showcase their work to tens of thousands of people, and in many cases has acted as a stepping stone into a full-time career as an artist. ”Equally importantly, by extending the competition outside of the region, we can strengthen County Durham’s reputation as a place of culture and creativity, where the arts are truly valued.

“This in turn will encourage more people to visit the county when it is safe to do so, boosting trade for hospitality, leisure and retail businesses, which have been significantly impacted by the pandemic.” Twenty-on BRILLIANT artworks have been shown across the previous editions of Lumiere Durham, which have attracted over a million visitors.

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Successful artists have made work using recycled objects including glass washed up from the ocean, and supersized everyday objects including knitting needles, desk lamps and a Slinky.

Helen Marriage, director of Artichoke, said: “ BRILLIANT has fostered so much creative talent in the North East since it launched in 2011, and it has been fantastic to see how the winners’ careers have developed, contributing to County Durham’s reputation as a hub for light art.

This year, we are delighted to open up BRILLIANT to the whole country whilst continuing to shine a light on local talent, so that anyone with a great idea can have the opportunity to make it a reality.”

It is also the first time that the BRILLIANT scheme is sponsored, by Durham-based EMG Solicitors which has supported Lumiere since 2017.

Applications will close at 9am on Thursday, February 11 information can be found at lumiere-festival.com/brilliant-2021.