A major new collaborative network, Illuminate the Midlands, has been launched to showcase the transformative power of light art, culture, and creativity across the region.
Illuminate the Midlands is a network of light art festivals spanning Beeston, Birmingham, Mansfield, Nottingham, Stoke-on-Trent, and Worcester. After delivering events independently for several years, partners have come together to work collaboratively in sharing expertise, supporting cultural development, and strengthening the region’s reputation for high-quality light-based events.
As a pilot programme, the consortium will co-commission and present a contemporary light artwork that will tour the six locations between October 2026 and March 2027, creating a shared cultural experience while celebrating the unique identity of each place.
At each location, the artwork will evolve and adapt to reflect the audience, place and festival while staying true to its creative vision. This dynamic approach to connecting with communities is at the heart of the project.
Lessons learned about accessibility, production, audience engagement, and sustainability will be captured and evaluated to help shape future collaborations. The insights gained will support partners in developing more effective, strategic approaches to delivering events and cultural projects together.
The Illuminate the Midlands consortium is made up of local authorities, cultural delivery organisations, business improvement districts, a civic society, and Arts Council England funded programmes, coordinated by a freelance Strategic Lead and Producer.
Illuminate the Midlands Strategic Lead, Amy Dalton-Hardy, said: “Light Nights across the Midlands have always done brilliant things on their own, but rarely together. Illuminate the Midlands is about testing what happens when we pool our ambition, our knowledge and our resources. It’s a pilot, and we’re proud of that. What we learn this season will shape how festivals across the region work together for years to come.”
The commissioned installation – Reflections by Lou Chapelle – is a series of holographic mirrors that invites viewers to pause for a moment and see their portraits intertwined with videos of moving water, accompanied by an atmospheric soundtrack. It will be displayed at six Midlands light festivals over the next six months:
Bridges Of Light – Worcester (28 & 29 October 2026)
Nottingham Light Night (5 & 6 February 2027)
Birmingham Light Festival (February 2027)
Mansfield Light Night (12 – 14 February 2027)
Beeston Light Night (20 March 2027)
Light Up Winter – Stoke-on-Trent (2027)
Illuminate the Midlands is funded through Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants programme, as well as the six partner festivals. The pilot will help establish new models for commissioning, touring, and partnership working that can benefit the Midlands long after the project concludes.
Councillor David Mellen, Executive Member for Leisure, Culture & Tourism at Nottingham City Council, said: “We’re thrilled to be part of a collaboration that showcases the region’s creativity, and to welcome a new commissioned artwork as part of Nottingham Light Night. Projects like this bring people together, attract new visitors, support our cultural sector and help strengthen Nottingham’s reputation as a vibrant, ambitious and innovative city with culture at its heart.”
Executive Mayor of Mansfield, Andy Abrahams, said: “It’s an honour to be recognised as one of the founding members of the Illuminate the Midlands consortium. So far, we have hosted three of these exciting, low cost, inclusive events and have been able to capture the imagination of thousands of people in our community, and we’re committed to making our 2027 Light Night event bigger, better and more immersive!
“In 2026, more than 10,000 people came to Titchfield Park to enjoy our FireLight Festival, helping families to enjoy some special time together and give their mental health and wellbeing a boost in the colder, darker months. We can’t wait to see Lou’s work on display and see the reactions of the Mansfield community.”
Elaine Knight, Arts Director at Severn Arts Worcester said: “Severn Arts is delighted to be part of Illuminate the Midlands. It’s a great opportunity for partners from across the region to work together, learn from each other and share best practice to a wider audience.”
Alex Nicholson-Evans, City Curator at Birmingham Colmore, said: “Illuminate the Midlands represents an exciting regional collaboration which Birmingham Light Festival is proud to be a part of and which offers us all a valuable opportunity to strengthen regional sector partnerships. Birmingham Light Festival looks forward to continuing to work with the consortium and contributing to the successful delivery of this ambitious and collaborative project.”
Emily Labhart, Director of Appetite, said: “We’re really excited to be part of Illuminate the Midlands and to bring Reflections to Stoke-on-Trent as part of Light Up Winter. There’s something really special about seeing familiar places transformed through light and experiencing them alongside other people, and that sense of shared discovery is at the heart of what we want Light Up Winter to be.
“Being part of this partnership also means we can bring ambitious new work to local audiences while sharing ideas, knowledge and resources with festivals across the Midlands. We’re looking forward to seeing how Reflections changes as it travels from place to place, and particularly to exploring what Stoke-on-Trent’s communities can bring to the work when it reaches us.”
Jeanie O’Shea at Beeston Civic Society said: “Beeston is excited to host this shared exhibit and partner with our sister festivals across the Midlands further in the future.”
Lou Chapelle said: “I can’t wait to see how the work evolves as it tours and takes form in different locations. The meditative soundtrack, created by sound artist Laura Campbell, will change and grow as we gather new voices about our connections to water along the way.”
Illuminate the Midlands has been made possible thanks to public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
