New Point North commissions announced for Lumiere Durham 2025
To celebrate Point North’s 30th anniversary, we are delighted to announce we have commissioned two new light installations for Lumiere Durham 2025; Solace by artist Amelia Kosminsky, and Glimmer by artist Laura Brenchley.
Solace by Amelia Kosminsky
Location: Durham Cathedral Cloister
Set within the historic cloisters of Durham Cathedral, Solace is an offering of comfort and hope in uncertain times.
Hundreds of handmade lanterns will appear as if suspended mid-flight, drifting into the distance. This moment of stillness and illumination invites audiences to reflect, pause and imagine a brighter tomorrow, echoing our mission to create a “better today and brighter tomorrow” for communities across County Durham, Tees Valley and the wider North East.
Michelle Cooper, CEO of Point North, said: “At Point North, we’ve invested over £74 million across County Durham, Tees Valley and the wider North East over the past three decades, standing alongside communities through austerity, COVID-19 and the current cost of living crisis. But resilience is more than simply surviving, it’s about living well, embracing joy and creativity, and having the tools to imagine a brighter future. With Solace, we sought to honour our past while sparking hope for what lies ahead.”
Artist Amelia Kosminsky explained:
“My work is an exploration of the hidden beauty in a world that whirls and rushes us through our daily lives. I’m on the lookout for moments of stillness, shards of light that flash across a dark room as the sunlight penetrates the crack in a curtain, the reflection of a watch acting like a mirror.”
Glimmer by Laura Brenchley
Location: Crook Hall & Shildon
Alongside Solace, we have commissioned Glimmer by lantern designer and facilitator Laura Brenchley.
This large-scale community project involves 400 people from across County Durham.
Through workshops led by a team of facilitators, people of all ages and backgrounds, from primary schools to professional quilt makers, mental health charities to community coffee mornings, have created lanterns decorated with their own messages, memories and hopes.
Displayed at Crook Hall Gardens and Shildon, Glimmer offers audiences a fleeting moment of joy: a tiny glimmer into the lives and voices of the people of Durham.
Investing in Culture and Community
As a major partner of Lumiere Durham 2025, Point North is proud to invest in culture that inspires, challenges and strengthens communities across our region.
In addition to these two commissions, our support also includes supporting the future generation through paid traineeships and skills development and the Northern Lights Match Fund, which encourages businesses to give back by supporting the Learning and Participation programme.
This year, Lumiere Durham will take place over three evenings, from Thursday 13 November to Saturday 15 November.
To book your tickets, please visit the Lumiere website.
Join us in shaping a brighter tomorrow for County Durham, Tees Valley
Whether you’re a business, a family trust or an individual donor, Point North can help you turn your support for arts and culture into lasting impact.
Get in touch today and let’s make it happen.
