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Durham University gives £100k backing to Lumiere Festival

Durham University has been announced as a major sponsor for this year’s Lumiere light festival, which will return to the city in November later this year.

Durham University, which has invested £100k, has been supportive of Lumiere since it began in 2009. In 2013, two major installations, Solar Eclipse by Rafael Lozano Hemmer and Gina Czarnecki’s exploration of the eye, “I”, were sited at Lower Mountjoy and supported by a series of talks by University staff.

In 2015, research images and expertise from the Centre for Computational Cosmology were incorporated into The World Machine, Ross Ashton’s son et lumiere projected onto Durham Cathedral. This involved the work of University students and staff, including Professor Carlos Frenk and Professor Richard Bower.

Stuart Corbridge, Vice-Chancellor and Warden of Durham University said: “We are proud of the positive contribution Durham University makes to North East England and the UK in a number of ways – economically, socially and culturally.

“The University has had successful involvement in Lumiere since it began in 2009 and we are very pleased to be continuing this as a major sponsor for Lumiere Durham 2017.”

Simon Henig, Leader of Durham County Council, added: “We are delighted to be welcoming back Lumiere for another year and we are grateful to Durham University for their financial support for this special event.

“Lumiere is not just special because it lights up our buildings, it also lights up the lives of many who live in our county, or who make a special journey to the festival, which is now the UK’s largest light festival.

“In return, Lumiere brings in £9.6 million to the local economy and puts this county on the map as a cultural centre, something that helps draw businesses, investors, residents and students alike to Durham – many of whom are now proud to call this county home.”

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