Lights out, but not forgotten

LUMIERE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR SO PROUD OF ITS 16-YEAR SPELL

- By Barbara Hodgson

'Crown of Light', 2013 'I Love Durham', 2019 'Elysium Garden', 2025

(Helen Marriage, artistic director of public arts company Artichoke)

THE artistic director behind Durham Lumiere has shared her pride and gratitude for its 16 years of success after the much-loved event lit up the city for the last time.

This month's run of the light festival was the last and it wrapped up in magnificent style with around 29 illuminations transforming the city centre and beyond.

And, as a mark of how much it is loved by visitors, Lumiere attracted a whopping 120,000 visitors despite extended periods of heavy rain during its three-day run.

Helen Marriage, the artistic director of public arts company Artichoke which produces the event, had planned a 'glowing tribute' to Durham to mark the end of the partnership enjoyed since the first Lumiere in 2009 - and all those involved pulled off a fitting finale.

Afterwards Helen said of its November 13-15 run: "As the lights go down on Lumiere 2025 in Durham, I feel an enormous sense of pride and gratitude.