Member Article

Businesses donate £200,000 to light up County Durham this year

Lumiere, the light art biennial is due to return to the streets of Durham this week, and businesses from across the county have been donating to support the year-round Learning & Participation activity.

The producers of Artichoke and the County Durham Community Foundation (the Foundation) have teamed up for a second year to double the donations made through match funding. And thanks to the generosity of local businesses and individuals, £200,000 has been raised.

The funds will allow people throughout County Durham to access free year-round creative opportunities and some will go towards the Foundation’s Poverty Hurts Appeal.

The Poverty Hurts Appeal, launched one year ago, aims to raise one million pounds to fight poverty in County Durham, which is one of the most deprived areas in England where communities have been hit hardest by the cost-of-living crisis.

“To support Lumiere is to support one of County Durham’s great treasures – an event that brings art, culture and magic to everyone, while enriching local lives throughout the year,” said Michelle Cooper, Chief Executive of the Foundation.

“It’s because of the generosity of businesses like Citrus Group, DTZ Investors (Walkergate), Leonard Curtis, BAM Nuttall, Kier and Sherwoods Motor Group who have donated through the match funding programme, that we’ve actually gone past our original one million pound target!”

Simon MacConachie, is Managing Director of Sherwoods Motor Group one of the businesses who have contributed as part of their commitment to supporting their local community, “As a family business, we’ve always seen it as part of our role to support the local community. Lumiere is a really special event which local people and their families enjoy every two years. We’re proud to support it and see it light up the city once again. It’s terrific to have our donation matched by County Durham Community Foundation which will go to their Poverty Hurts Appeal and the vital work it does in the County.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Laura Stevens .