The light fantastic - all you need to know about the 10th anniversary of Lumiere in Durham

Lumiere producer Artichoke has compiled an exciting line-up of enchanting installations featuring striking new creations by world-renowned artists alongside popular pieces from previous years.

From the thought-provoking to the intriguing, the jaw-dropping to the fun and quirky, this year’s programme features a mesmerising selection of installations.

Thirty-seven stunning artworks will be spread across the city, transforming familiar places and shedding new light on iconic landmarks.

Returning favourites include the unforgettable Mysticète. More popularly known as ‘the whale’, this installation features a 3D projection of a baleen whale emerging from the water.

Created by design agency Top’là and visual artist Catherine Garret, the installation was a much-loved feature of Lumiere 2015. This year it will resurface on the River Wear at a new location north of Pennyferry Bridge.

A popular installation at Lumiere 2017, Cosmic Architecture celebrates scientific achievements with an out-of-this-world projection.

This stunning piece, which was commissioned specifically for Durham University’s Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics, sees the architecture of the building come to life as 3D graphics depicting the birth of the galaxies ripple across its surface.

Other popular installations making a return to the city for Lumiere 2019 include the I Love Durham snow globe; the playful Cloud, formed from 6,000 incandescent light bulbs, and Fogscape #03238, which will cloak the riverside in plumes of ghostly water vapour.

Alongside these familiar pieces there will also be a stunning selection of new creations including the Friendship Tree, whose branches and blossoming flowers were made from recycled materials by more than 1,000 youngsters from around the world.

Their creations were brought together by young people from Parkside Academy, Willington, and their partners at Geschwister Scholl Schule in Tübingen, Germany, in the form of a glowing tree representing worldwide friendship and marking 50 years of friendship between County Durham and Tübingen.

Geometrical Traces by Javier Riera will illuminate the trees on the banks of the River Wear with computer- generated patterns, while Stones, by TigreLab, will see the exterior of Durham Cathedral transformed by a shape-shifting video projection highlighting the significance of the building as both an iconic historical structure and a modern symbol of the city.

Lumiere is the pinnacle of #Durham19, the county’s Year of Culture, which is celebrating significant investment in culture over the last ten years with an incredible calendar of festivals, events, activities, openings and anniversaries.

Lumiere in numbers

Over the last ten years Lumiere, the UK’s largest light festival, has had a huge impact on the area.

840,000 – the total number of visitors to date

£28.7m – the total economic benefit brought to County Durham

88 – the number of businesses and organisations supporting Lumiere in 2019

107 – the total number of installations brought to the city

300 – the number of volunteer festival makers who will help to make your visit enjoyable

10,000+ – the number of people who have taken part in Lumiere-related community projects

Top tips for Lumiere

LUMIERE is the UK’s largest light festival and we’re expecting this year to be the best yet. Follow our top tips to help make the most of your Lumiere experience.

Plan your visit. Download the free Lumiere Durham app before your visit for details of the installations and where to find them as well as special Lumiere offers from retailers and food and drink outlets. You can also buy a printed festival programme, including a map, for £2 at a variety of locations in the city and county. To make the most of your visit to Lumiere, stay a little longer and find out what else there is to see and do at thisisdurham.com/Lumiere.

Use park and ride or public transport. The best way to visit the festival is by using one of our many park and ride facilities. Park and ride services will operate from Belmont, Sniperley, Howlands, Merryoaks, New College and Meadowfield, and cost £2 per person. Under-16s go free. The last bus leaves at 11.30pm. Extra bus services will be running and the train station is just a short walk from the city centre.

Visit at a quieter time. The festival is busiest between 4.30pm and 7.30pm each evening, so why not pay a visit later on? Lumiere is open until 11pm. Thursday and Sunday nights are usually quieter, too.

Visit quieter areas. Twenty six of the 37 installations are outside of the ticketed area, so avoid the longest queues by visiting some of the other dazzling installations around the festival footprint.

Travel light. For your safety and security bag checks and body searches will be in operation at entry points into the central peninsula. Please think carefully about what you bring with you and leave large bags and rucksacks (over A4 size) at home.

Come prepared. It’s November, it’s outdoors and it’s dark, so wrap up warmly; wear comfortable, sturdy shoes and bring a waterproof. We also recommend a small torch – and don’t forget to bring your camera.

Get a taste of the festival. Durham has a great selection of cafés, restaurants and bars to choose from. For details visit thisisdurham.com/Lumiere.

Follow us on social media. Check out @artichoketrust on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; get the latest updates at #LumiereDurham or follow @DurhamCouncil for the latest traffic and travel information.

Ask a festival maker. Our Lumiere volunteers are there to help you enjoy your visit. If you need help or have a question, find one and ask. You can identify them by their light blue tabards.

Share your experience. Share all your photos on social media with the hashtag #LumiereDurham.

Do I need a ticket to visit Lumiere?

LUMIERE is completely free to attend and 26 of the 37 installations, including some of the most spectacular artworks, are accessible at all times without a ticket.

As in previous years, a peak-time ticketing system will be in operation for access to the central peninsula area between 4.30pm and 7.30pm each evening to ensure everyone has an enjoyable experience. Everyone will be able to enter the central area without a ticket after 7.30pm. As large crowds are expected you may have to queue in some areas even if you have a ticket.

How can I get a ticket?

Tickets will be available from 10am on Monday, October 28. They are not available by telephone but can be obtained online or in person from one of the 11 ticketing sites around the county.

These are:

• The Gala Theatre and Cinema
• Chester-le-Street Library
• Stanley Library
• Consett Library
• Seaham Library
• Peterlee Library
• Spennymoor Leisure Centre
• Crook Library
• Woodhouse Close Leisure Centre
• Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre
• Barnard Castle Library

Each venue will have a set allocation of tickets to distribute, with tickets available until the allocation runs out.

The Gala Theatre and Cinema will be open each day from 10am until 8.30pm. All other ticketing sites will be open from 10am to 7pm on Monday, October 28 and Tuesday, October 29. From Wednesday, October 30, each ticketing site will revert to its usual operating hours.

Opening times are available at durham.gov.uk/lumiere.

Tickets collected in person incur no charge.

Booking online

To obtain tickets online, please visit lumiere-festival.com. There is a £2 transaction charge – per order – for tickets booked online, and an additional £1 charge for tickets posted out.

From what age do children need a ticket?

If your child is under the age of two and is carried in a baby carrier or sling, they won’t need a ticket. All other children will.

We advise against bringing prams and pushchairs as it can be difficult to get around and some access routes will be closed.

Please note: A maximum of six tickets per household are available.

Visit lumiere-festival.com to find out more and for live updates follow the hashtag #LumiereDurham.