Our Key Pillars

As part of the development of Birmingham Light Festival we developed 9 key pillars.

These are the principles that guide our work:

Place

We will connect audiences with the city in a positive, creative and playful way through light art that makes connections with Birmingham; it’s heritage, it’s USPs and it’s people 

Economic

A festival designed to encourage curiosity and creativity but with driving footfall and increasing spend in local businesses at the centre of the proposition

Collaborative

A festival with collaboration at it’s heart, with City Centre BIDS uniting alongside both private and public partners to deliver an exciting event for the city

Active

Artworks will all be within walking distance of one another, showcasing Birmingham as a walkable city and encouraging visitors to actively explore the city-centre

Social

Some artworks will be participatory, encouraging social experience - enhancing community cohesion and human connection

Safe

We will use the first year of the festival to explore how we can improve perceptions of safety through light

Inclusive

Light art is accessible to all and resonates with a wider audience, and in taking this art to the streets of city centre we remove many of the barriers that exist with traditional art forms

Sustainable

Working in an environmentally sustainable way across all areas of the festival, including using sustainability as a criteria for future commissions

Legacy

Each year we will aim to work with partners to ensure that at least one of the light art commissions remains in place as a longer-term installation, brightening and enhancing city spaces more permanently over time