Arts charity Artichoke has launched its search for 2017’s ‘brilliant’ artists, as part of a scheme inviting local people with exciting original ideas to submit them for this year’s Lumiere festival in November.
Lumiere is produced by Artichoke and commissioned by Durham County Council, with additional support from Arts Council England and a raft of other partners and supporters.
The ‘brilliant’ competition is open to anyone originally from, or currently living in the North East, who has a potentially winning idea to create a new artwork made with light for Lumiere, which is returning to Durham for a fifth edition.
You don’t need to be an artist to take part. Previous winners have been people interested in trying something different, people who like to be creative in their spare time and artists at the start of their careers.
Anyone over the age of 18 can apply to ‘brilliant’ and no artistic experience is necessary, but light should be at the heart of all the ideas submitted.
The winning applications will receive funding and practical support from Lumiere producers Artichoke. The closing date to submit ideas is Monday March 6 at midday.
“This is a chance for local people to shine and for us to celebrate creativity and discover local talent in the North East as part of the internationally recognised Lumiere festival”, said Kate Harvey, lead producer at Artichoke.
“It’s been wonderful to discover new North East talent and each time the number of submissions has grown as people have got to know about the opportunity. It’s often the smallest ideas that make the greatest impact, so don’t be shy. I can’t wait to see what people propose. “
Past winning ideas have included giant neon piece of knitting complete with needles, made by Victoria MacLeod, a retired teacher from Sunderland who turned her hobby of knitting into the eye catching Big Knitting and Sunderland student Robyn Wright’s delightful Neon Bikes.
Several ‘brilliant’ winners have seen their lives transformed. Durham-based builder Mick Stephenson has put down his tools to become a full-time artist, exhibiting his work across the North East and in London. 2013 winner Stu Langley has since toured his Lumiere installation Stained Glass Cars to several locations and as far as Singapore.
Full details about how to apply can be found on the Lumiere Durham website: lumiere-festival.com together with a list of suggested locations. For further information or questions about the competition please contact [email protected].
