University attractions are big hit at Lumiere 2017

Lumiere has been declared as a resounding success with Durham University's attractions and expertise playing a major part in the UK's biggest light festival. First estimates indicate that around 240,000 people visited the free festival during its four nights, from November 16 to 19, with many exploring University hosted or inspired installations including What Matters , Cosmic Architecture , and For The Birds . Durham University is a major partner of Lumiere which is produced by Artichoke , the UK's leading producers of art in the public realm, and commissioned by Durham County Council with additional support from Arts Council England and a host of further funders and supporters. Since its inception in 2009, Lumiere has transformed Durham City into a nocturnal art gallery every two years. For the 2017 edition, 29 spectacular artworks and installations created an illuminated trail right across the city. Light and sound One of this year's crowd favourites was For The Birds in Durham University's Botanic Garden , an enchanting collection of more than 20 light and sound installations inspired by birdlife. Supported by Wellcome, Cosmoscope was the culmination of two years of research by a team of artists and scientists, led by Simeon Nelson and including academics from Durham University's Institute for Computational Cosmology.