A bright idea for Durham's big bid; Spectacular event planned by Artichoke.

Byline: David Whetstone 

AN arts company famous for city centre spectaculars is to light up Durham as it steps up its campaign to be UK City of Culture.

Artichoke, directed by Nicky Webb, entertained thousands with an enormous mechanical spider which legged it around Liverpool during its European Capital of Culture year, 2008.

It has also delighted Londoners with a giant elephant which marched slowly up The Mall and Antony Gormley's One & Other which saw 2,400 volunteers taking turns to occupy a plinth in Trafalgar Square this summer.

Now Artichoke is masterminding a pounds 500,000 festival called Lumiere which is to take place in Durham city centre over four days from November 12 to 15.

In Durham yesterday, Ms Webb said that 80 artists and performers would be involved in a series of 18 light-related events and projects which would see the city centre transformed.

"We are going to try to make an impact in the area around the peninsular," she said. "We are not just going to use the river but the cathedral, the castle, Saddler Street and various buildings along the way." She did not want to give away too many details, saying an element of surprise was vital to Artichoke events, but she hinted strongly that Durham Cathedral would be an important part of the city's festival "canvas".

Train passengers who get a famous and unrivalled view of the famous building from the main East Coast line would notice a difference during the four-day festival, she said.

Durham is one of 29 cities which have expressed an initial interest in being the first UK City of Culture in 2013.

The new title was created by the Government following the excitement generated by the competition to be European Capital of Culture a few years ago, in which Newcastle and Gateshead were a leading contender.

Durham is to submit an outline of its plans to the Department of Culture, Media & Sport next week.

After feedback from the DCMS, formal bids will be submitted and then a shortlist announced next year.

Melanie Sensicle, chief executive of Visit County Durham and a leading figure in the City of Culture bid, said yesterday: "What Durham has to do in future to be a contender for the shortlist is to raise its profile as a cultural place.

"I think Lumiere will help to do that because of Artichoke's reputation and the nature of what they do. It gives us credibility." Ms Webb said Durham was too compact, and its city centre streets too small, for a giant mechanical creature. But she said: "We are very inspired by the landscape.

This is an incredible canvas you've got here because it's very, very beautiful."

She said Artichoke had experience of working with city agencies such as the police and local authorities and would work to ensure safety for the thousands expected to attend the festival.

But she said the company liked to have an element of mischief and surprise in what it did.

She said Lumiere would include some new commissions, including a plan to project the faces of Durham people - famous and ordinary - onto buildings around the Market Place.

Other projects had been tried and tested elsewhere, including Power Plant which was a hit in Edinburgh and will see Durham Botanic Gardens play host to a series of lighting installations. The way to Lumiere was paved last year by Enlightenment, a weekend festival in which four of Durham's river bridges were transformed by artists from Britain and India, all working with light.

Thousands attended the event which went on to win Best Event of the Year in The Journal Culture Awards. All Lumiere events will be free to the public apart from Power Plant which will include the normal admission price to the Botanic Gardens.

Durham's City of Culture bid is led by Durham County Council in partnership with County Durham Partnership, Visit County Durham and Durham City Vision.

CAPTION(S):

PLAN Nicky Webb of the Lumiere festival at the Durham Cathedral.