Summary:
Light Up The North is a collaborative network of 15 light festivals across Northern England, focused on leveraging creativity in light art for environmental sustainability. Funded by a National Lottery Project Grant from Arts Council England, the initiative promotes collaboration, nurtures emerging artists, and co-commissions innovative works. Notable projects include the historic Blackpool Illuminations, which has significantly reduced its energy consumption through the transition to LED technology, achieving an 88% drop in costs and minimizing waste by using renewable energy. Another highlight is Ben Everard’s "Cry for Help," an interactive sculpture series that raises awareness about declining insect populations, utilizing sustainable materials to underline its environmental message. Together, these initiatives exemplify art’s power to inspire ecological responsibility.
