Lumiere is back. This November, Durham City’s spectacular light festival will once again transform its streets and buildings. Allan Cook, chairman of the Lumiere Development Board and prominent Durham businessman, explains the event’s importance to Durham City and the North-East

Lumiere, let’s face it, is extraordinary.

Over a breath-taking four days every two years in November, Durham City is transformed into a place of such magic that visitors are drawn to it from all over the country and indeed the world.

My first experience of the festival was in 2009 when Durham County Council were about to commission Lumiere for the first time. I was introduced to Helen Marriage, Director of the arts charity Artichoke who programme and produce the festival. Her energy and enthusiasm was infectious and I instantly wanted to help make Lumiere become a reality.

I realised then that this would be a major event, not just for Durham but for the region.

As a local developer and investor I also recognised that this was a rare chance to be part of something that not only showcases our beautiful city but also puts the North East firmly on the world map.

I’m thrilled it’s back this year for a fourth time, from 12th – 15th November, in what will also be the UN’s International Year of Light.

I vividly remember ‘Crown of Light’ at Durham Cathedral, the projection of the Lindisfarne Gospels onto the north façade of the building, and thinking how lucky we were to have Lumiere. It was truly spectacular and I know that the thousands on Palace Green that year would agree with me. The media attention the festival attracted was astonishing. It really put the spotlight on Durham and the North East.

Across 2011 and 2013 there were 325,000 visitors to Lumiere; amazing for a city with a population of just over 40,000. By 2013 it was unthinkable not to become a festival sponsor.

As a local business, we felt the association was of huge benefit and value and allowed us to show our support as well as provide an opportunity to entertain some of our most valued corporate partners.

Along with joint venture partners Carillion and Richardsons Capital, Arlington sponsored ‘Volume Unit’, the visual jukebox installation projected onto Millburngate House directly opposite our development at Freeman’s Reach. Audiences chose the music played while colourful graphics danced around on the building. It was my 50th birthday so it was extra special when a surprise request was played for me. It was such a memorable moment and a great feeling knowing that my company was playing its part in bringing personal joy not only to me but the thousands of others on a dark November evening.

Durham County Council provides a lot of the funding to ensure that the festival happens. But it’s only with business sponsorship from across Durham and the North East region that Artichoke can bring so many international artists to the city and programme work of the quality of ‘Volume Unit’, ‘Crown of Light’, or my personal favourite ‘Elephantastic’ on Elvet Bridge in 2013.

We need local businesses to come forward for 2015 so we can continue to showcase Durham as the UK’s biggest and best light festival.

The official figures confirm that as well as being a fantastic spectacle Lumiere is of huge economic and social benefit to the region. In 2011 and 2013 combined, the festival generated over £10 million for the local economy. £500,000 worth of business was secured in the region directly from and for the festival. The return on investment for Durham County Council was a staggering 1,358% and the PR value in 2013 was over £3 million with press coverage as far afield as Hong Kong.

The festival also engages with hundreds of school children and community groups across the county through a remarkable participation programme. The ‘Litre of Light’ installation involved 21 primary schools. Artichoke has partnered on creative art projects with HMP Durham across all its prisons as well as the Young Offenders Institute. Visitors only see this work during the four-day festival; but it begins many weeks before and leaves a real legacy. The BRILLIANT scheme is also happening again - Artichoke’s competition for people in the North East to pitch an idea for a light artwork that could be made and presented alongside the work of Lumiere’s international artists. Find out more on Artichoke’s website.

So what now? Well firstly get the dates in your diaries! But also, as the current Chair of Lumiere’s Development Board, I’m personally appealing to North East businesses to sponsor this year’s festival. Your support will go directly towards commissioning the light installations that make our festival such a world-class event. I’m delighted to announce Filtronic, Radisson Blu Hotel, Ramside Estates and Walkergate as our first official Lumiere 2015 sponsors. It’s fantastic that they are on board so on behalf of Lumiere can I say a big thank you.

But we still have a way to go. So businesses please come forward, get involved and help us continue to show the world exactly what we’re capable of achieving here in Durham and the North East.

• Allan Cook is a successful North East-based entrepreneur operating in the property, regeneration, financial services and aviation sectors.