Around 170 Festival Makers who helped some 200,000 people enjoy the UK’s largest light festival earlier this month are to be honoured for their efforts.
A formal thank you to the volunteers who supported Lumiere will take place next week at Durham Town Hall and all invited have been contacted. The special event will be attended by Cllr Jan Blakey, Chairman of Durham County Council, as well as representatives from Lumiere producers, Artichoke, and the sponsors of this year’s Festival Makers, Northumbrian Water.
Lumiere, which ran November 12 -15, is an Artichoke production and was commissioned by the county council for the fourth time in 2015. Its 29 fabulous artworks attracted record crowds and were spread across the city. They included a colossal whale in the Wear, a ghostly fog below the Cathedral and a fantastic tale of myth and fable combined with local history, projected onto the Castle.
Ensuring a better experience for visitors was one of the main tasks of the army of Festival Makers, supported by Northumbrian Water, who provided a welcoming face and great knowledge of the city for the audience.
Chairman of the council, Cllr Jan Blakey, said: “Lumiere is spectacular but it was all the better for the wonderful work of the volunteer Festival Makers, who maintained their enthusiasm despite some pretty inclement weather.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank them publically and I look forward to meeting them all in person at our special event.
Louise Hunter, Director of Corporate Affairs at Northumbrian Water, said: “The Lumiere festival has gone from strength to strength and with the help of the Festival Makers, 2015 has been a record-breaking, best ever.
“We’re proud to have played a part by supporting the Festival Makers, who braved the elements to help with the smooth running of the event.”
The project will include working with local partners including Durham University and Durham Cathedral. For more information on Durham County Council visit www.durham.gov.uk
