Lumiere, the UK's leading light art festival, is launching a nationwide competition to design artworks which will be shown alongside international artists in Durham this November. As a part of that, Artichoke, the producers of the festival, have launched a commissioning scheme called BRILLIANT, in which they will award over £50,000 to six commissions. Lumiere, which is commissioned by Durham County Council, will take place from Thursday 18 – Sunday 21 November 2021.

The BRILLIANT commissioning scheme is open to creative individuals currently living in the UK who are aged 18 or older, and have a bright idea that will transform Durham’s urban landscape using the medium of light. Successful applicants will be supported by Artichoke with the production costs and technical expertise to create and install their artwork, and receive a fee. To broaden the diversity of those working in the medium of light art, Artichoke is encouraging applications from those who identify as d/Deaf and Disabled, and Black People and People of Colour.

This is the first time the scheme, which has run for ten years, will be open to the whole of the UK, encouraging the nations to unleash their creative potential and bring light into people’s lives, as previously it was open only to residents of the North East of England. Three commissions are still reserved for people from the North East, while the extended scheme will support three more commissions from across the country.

Twenty-one BRILLIANT artworks have been shown across the previous editions of Lumiere Durham, which have attracted over one million visitors. 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: “We are delighted to open up BRILLIANT to the whole country – we want as many people as possible to dazzle us with their ideas. Light art has traditionally been dominated by white, male, non-disabled artists and we want to help change this by providing the financing, mentorship and technical support necessary for anyone with a great idea to make it a reality.”

Leader of Durham County Council, Councillor Simon Henig, says, “BRILLIANT is a fantastic opportunity for people 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.”

Applications will close at 9am on Thursday 11 February 2021. All the information on how to take part in the BRILLIANT competition, including an information pack and application form available in accessible formats, can be found here.