Calling all UK-based emerging artists with new light artwork ideas. Light Up The North are commissioning up to £15,000 (to cover all artist fees and fabrication costs) and touring costs: covered separately up to £2,500 (to attend up to 4 festivals) for up to two artists/collectives for our 2026 programme.

Exhibit your work at 4-5 incredible light festivals including: Lightpool (Blackpool) – 21-31 October, Light Night Leeds – 28-29 October, Light Up Lancaster – 5-7 November, Barnsley Bright Nights – 20-21 November, Light Night Wigan – 19-21 November, Lightwaves (Salford) – dates tbc, Illuminate Oldham – dates tbc.

SHINE is led by Light Up The North (LUTN) a network of light festivals across the North of England.

For 2026, a group of LUTN festivals will work together to commission two new artworks. These works will tour to multiple festivals, giving artists the opportunity to create new light art and present their work to large and diverse audiences across the region.

SHINE is designed to support artists to:

• Develop their creative practice
• Create work at a larger scale
• Gain experience of working in outdoor festival contexts
• Build their profile within the light art sector

The Opportunity

We will commission two artists or collectives to create new light-based artworks.

Commission fee:

Up to £15,000 (to cover all artist fees and fabrication costs)

Touring costs:

Covered separately up to £2,500 (to attend up to 4 festivals)

Additional support:

Production, mentoring and training

Your proposal should:

• Use light as a central element of the work
• Be suitable for outdoor presentation in winter
• Be durable and tourable across multiple locations
• Consider how audiences will experience the work

Demonstrate awareness of environmental sustainability

We are especially interested in work that:

• Creates a strong visual presence in public space
• Encourages interaction or participation
• Engages a wide audience, including families
• Has potential for reuse or future life beyond SHINE

Your artwork will need to be:

• Outdoor-ready: suitable for winter conditions in the UK
• Robust: able to withstand weather, transport and multiple installations
• Tourable: adaptable across different festival locations
• Ambitious: mid to large-scale, with strong visual impact

Selected artists will receive:

• A full induction into the programme
• Ongoing mentoring from experienced festival producers
• Support with production, technical delivery and touring
• Guidance on budgeting, sustainability and working in public space
• Profiling through festival marketing and PR

You should also consider:

• Installation and de-rig requirements
• Power and technical needs
• Environmental impact and sustainability

What makes a strong application?

We’re particularly interested in proposals that:

• Clearly communicate a strong and original idea
• Show consideration of audience experience from the outset
• Are ambitious but realistic within the budget and timeframe
• Demonstrate awareness of sustainability and responsible production
• Show how this opportunity will support your development as an artist

Who is this opportunity for? (Emerging Artists)

SHINE is aimed at artists in the early stages of developing their practice and profile.

We define an emerging artist as someone who may:

• Be in the early years of presenting work publicly
• Have not yet received a commission of this scale
• Be developing their practice and ready to take on a more ambitious project
• Be transitioning into working with light as a primary medium
• Be experimenting with light within a broader practice
• You do not need extensive experience in light art specifically. We are interested in strong ideas, creative potential, and your readiness to develop work with support.

If you are unsure whether this opportunity is right for you, we encourage you to get in touch via the 'Contact curator' tab.

We particularly welcome applications from artists currently underrepresented in the light art sector, including people of colour and artists who identify as d/Deaf, disabled or neurodivergent.

Terms and Conditions - Summary

By applying, you agree that:

• Your project can be delivered within the SHINE timeline
• You will attend induction and key meetings where required
• You will hold appropriate Public Liability Insurance (£10 million minimum)
• You will provide content for marketing and evaluation

Support for applicants

We want to make this process as accessible and supportive as possible.

1:1 Support Sessions

We are offering a limited number of bookable 1:1 sessions for artists who would like support with their application. These sessions are an opportunity to:

• Ask questions about the programme
• Get guidance on your proposal
• Ask questions about what to include in your application
• To book, contact us at through the 'Contact curator' tab. 

Please get in touch with any specific access requirements/queries.