Organizer Information
The SHINE 2026 programme is led by Light Up The North, a collaborative network of light festivals across the North of England. The network brings together major cultural festivals that specialise in large-scale public art, urban light installations, and immersive winter experiences.
Light Up The North operates as a commissioning and development platform, connecting emerging and established artists with festival contexts that prioritise innovation in light-based public art. Through its partners, SHINE enables artists to test ambitious ideas in real-world, large-scale environments, reaching broad and diverse audiences across multiple cities.
The programme collaborates with festivals such as Light Night Leeds, Lightpool Blackpool, and Light Up Lancaster, forming one of the UK’s most active touring platforms for light-based public art and festival commissions.
Title & Description
SHINE 2026 – Emerging Artist Commission Opportunity
SHINE 2026 is a major Festival Commission and Mentorship programme designed to support emerging artists in developing ambitious new work using light as a primary medium.
The programme will commission two artists or collectives to create new light artworks that will tour across multiple festivals in the North of England between October 2026 and March 2027. These works will be presented in large-scale outdoor environments, engaging diverse public audiences in urban and semi-urban spaces.
Selected artists will receive significant production support, mentoring, and funding to develop site-responsive works designed for winter festival conditions. The programme emphasises experimentation, audience engagement, and the expansion of artistic practice into public, outdoor contexts.
Categories
- Light Art
- Installation
- Public Art
- Site-specific
- Multimedia
- Digital
- Media Arts
Eligibility
- Artists in the early stages of public presentation
- Practitioners transitioning into Light Art
- Artists expanding into large-scale or outdoor work
- Those with experimental or interdisciplinary practices
- UK-based and international applicants (no restriction stated, but UK delivery required)
The programme strongly encourages applications from underrepresented groups, including:
- Artists of colour
- Disabled, d/Deaf, and neurodivergent artists
Applicants do not need prior experience in light-based work, but must demonstrate strong conceptual ideas and readiness to develop ambitious public-facing projects.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Commission fee of up to £15,000 for production and artistic development
- Additional touring budget up to £2,500 for travel to festivals
- Full production, technical, and installation support
- Mentorship from experienced festival producers
- Professional development in budgeting, sustainability, and public space production
- Marketing and PR exposure across multiple UK festivals
Additional support includes:
- Artist induction programme (Workshop-style onboarding)
- Ongoing Mentorship
- Technical and production guidance
- Support for touring logistics and installation planning
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Online application form (including a 500-word project summary)
- Artistic proposal document including:
- Concept description
- Visual references
- Audience experience strategy
- Material and technical considerations
- Detailed budget breakdown (including production and touring costs)
Optional:
- Additional visuals or supporting materials
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 11 May 2026
- Interviews: 28 May 2026
- Artist Induction: Early June 2026
- Development Period: June – September 2026
- Festival Presentation: October 2026 – March 2027
Location
- United Kingdom
- Touring festivals across Northern England, including:
- Leeds
- Blackpool
- Lancaster
- Salford
- Wigan
- Oldham
Additional Details
- Works must be outdoor-ready and suitable for winter conditions
- Projects must be durable, scalable, and adaptable for multiple festival sites
- Strong emphasis on sustainability and environmental responsibility
- Works should be designed for public interaction and audience engagement
- Artists are required to hold Public Liability Insurance (£10M minimum)
- AI usage must be declared in applications
- The programme prioritises both artistic ambition and feasibility within production constraints
- Selection is based on artistic quality, feasibility, audience experience, and sustainability