Mayor calls for U-turn over Lumiere decision

THE North East mayor has called for a U-turn on the decision to bring one of the region’s top attractions to an end after this year.

- DANIEL HOLLAND Local Democracy Reporter

It was announced on Thursday that 2025 will be the final edition of Durham's Lumiere festival.

Organisers said that the spectacular light show required “investment and commitment at a level that is increasingly difficult to secure’, as they promised a “love letter to Durham” when it returns for the last time this November. Bringing Lumiere to a close after 16 years has been described as a joint decision between Durham County Council and producers Artichoke.

But Labour mayor Kim McGuinness told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that it was “not the time to cut one of the region's most successful events” and that she hoped the decision could be reversed.

Andrew Husband, the Reform UK leader of Durham Council, said it was “not the end of light art or major events” in his country and expressed hopes that “Lumiere or another world-class event for County Durham can be delivered with the support of regional investment”.