The artist contributions for the next Bristol Light Festival, which is set to illuminate Bristol city centre in February 2025 is now closed.

The Opportunity

We have an open call for expression of interest to showcase at the 2025 festival. Designers, architects, light artists – as well as students and institutions – are invited to submit expressions of interest for projects or ideas that are engaging to all age groups. We are interested in:

  • Existing works or new ideas exploring light.
  • Projects which use technology in innovative ways to encourage play and exploration.
  • Sustainable light art which uses Green Energy solutions.
  • Hearing from artists who have a relationship to Bristol.

We are looking for artworks that are:

  • Suitable for outdoor winter light festivals.
  • Artistically challenging/interesting and of high quality.
  • Structurally resilient enough to withstand the winter weather.
  • Considered accessible for all.

We’re particularly interested in seeing applications that consider:

  • Environmental sustainability in their design and embody best practice in their delivery.
  • Design artworks for reuse – materials/equipment – building onto what happens at the end of the festival.
  • Encouraging novel and artistically ambitious ideas.
  • Are playful, interactive and engaging for a wide audience

Submitted an idea to us before? We still have it in review, so please don’t resubmit the same proposal. We do however, love to hear from artists who have submitted in the past, with new ideas.

The deadline for submissions has now passed.

Selection Process and Criteria

The expressions of interest application review process will be conducted by the Bristol Light Festival team. We will notify all applicants the outcome of the review. As Bristol Light Festival is a small team we are unable to provide individual feedback on unsuccessful applications. Shortlisted artists will be invited to expand on their plans as part of an informal interview to get to know your work, plans and ambitions better.

Timeline

  • Call out opens: 29 April 2024
  • Application submission deadline: 26 May 2024 at midnight
  • Shortlisting deadline: 28 June 2024
  • Conversations with artists commencing: July 2024
  • Site visits & Pre-Production: July – September 2024
  • Bristol Light Festival: February – specific date TBC*

* This event is subject to licensing and site permissions approval.