Light Night Leeds 2025 will transform the city on October 22-23, showcasing dazzling light art by local artists and primary school children from Armley Park, Little London Academy, Park View, and Shakespeare Primary Schools at Wellington Place.
This vibrant festival, themed “Landmarks” and sponsored by Northern Powergrid, powerfully unites the community through interactive installations like “The Matter of the Hearts” at Monk Bridge Viaduct Garden and “Stitching Light” at Holy Trinity Church, celebrating shared stories and the city’s illuminating spirit.
What is Light Night Leeds 2025 and how does it celebrate community creativity?
Light Night Leeds 2025 is an annual city-wide festival that transforms Leeds with illuminated artworks, interactive installations, and community projects. Involving primary schools, local artists, and residents, it celebrates creativity, inclusivity, and community spirit, with accessible options for remote and in-person participation.
Young Innovators Take Center Stage
This October, Light Night Leeds is set to dazzle the city once again, with the innovative spirit of the city’s youngest minds taking a prominent role. Four primary schools – Armley Park, Little London Academy, Park View, and Shakespeare primary schools – are participating in an inspiring initiative to nurture the next generation of light artists. Guided by local artist Gemma Wood, these children have been encouraged to design artworks using light, free from the usual practical limitations that often restrict creative expression in the classroom. Their designs, bursting with originality and imagination, will be unveiled at Wellington Place, presenting a vivid showcase of youthful creativity.
Northern Powergrid, the event’s main sponsor, has been instrumental in making this project possible. Louise Lowes, Director of Customer Service at Northern Powergrid, emphasized the value of such community engagement: “We’re really proud to be part of Light Night Leeds and to help celebrate creativity across the city. Electricity powers our everyday lives, but events like this remind us how it can also inspire, connect and spark imagination.” This powerful message echoes the event’s dedication to transforming the city’s public spaces into an interactive gallery, where electricity serves not only a functional but also an artistic role.
The event’s inclusive approach extends beyond school grounds. Children and young people unable to attend in person, such as those in hospitals or residential care, have been given the opportunity to participate through activity packs designed by artist Rhian Cooke. Produced with support from Yorkshire Contemporary and Northern Powergrid, these packs bring the joy of creativity to those who otherwise might miss out, ensuring that the event’s reach extends into all corners of the community.
Exploring the Theme: Landmarks and Shared Spaces
Light Night Leeds 2025 revolves around the theme of “Landmarks,” celebrating not only the city’s historic civic buildings and contemporary architecture but also encouraging participants to reflect on personal landmarks – those places imbued with memories and significance. This thematic focus invites visitors to consider the various ways in which both public and private spaces shape collective and individual identities.
The program is set to illuminate a diverse array of locations, transforming Leeds into a living, breathing art installation. Famous buildings, modern structures, and vibrant public spaces are all part of the tapestry, as the event seeks to engage more people than ever before. The event organizers hope this approach will encourage attendees to “contemplate their own personal landmarks and the places which are important and memorable to them,” fostering a deeper connection between the city and its residents.
For those unable to attend in person, Light Night Leeds offers a livestream option, broadcasting selected highlights from 7-8pm on Thursday, October 23. This effort to include remote audiences reflects the event’s mission to be as accessible and inclusive as possible. More details and updates can be found on the official Light Night Leeds website and through their social media channels, inviting everyone to join the celebration, wherever they may be.
Community Artworks: Stories Told Through Light
Light Night Leeds 2025 is not just a festival of illumination – it’s an event where community voices and stories are brought to life through cutting-edge installations. One of the most anticipated pieces is “The Matter of the Hearts,” located at Monk Bridge Viaduct Garden. In this unique artwork, local residents wear heart monitors that are linked to corresponding lightboxes. As each participant moves through their evening, their heartbeat is translated into light, allowing the collective rhythms of the community to be seen flashing together. This installation powerfully symbolizes the interconnectedness of the city’s inhabitants, with each pulse contributing to the city’s vibrant heartbeat.
Another standout work, “Stitching Light,” will be exhibited at Holy Trinity Church on Boar Lane. This collaborative project tells the migration stories of women of Bangladeshi heritage from the Shantona Women’s Centre in Harehills, along with Bangladeshi women from Bradford, Middlesbrough, Salford, Tower Hamlets, London, and Worcester. The women have created traditional folk-style panels using light-reactive thread to depict their personal experiences. Brought together by Emergency Exit Arts, these rarely shared stories take centre stage, offering visitors a poignant glimpse into the journeys and resilience of these remarkable women.
In addition, “Motus Mori PERPETUUM,” an immersive video installation by Katja Heitmann, will be showcased at Assembly Street. Selected by Yorkshire Dance and Transform Festival, the installation projects the movements of twelve Leeds residents on a monumental scale, adding them to the ongoing Motus Mori (extinct movement) archive, which already includes over two thousand people. Visitors are invited to stand face-to-face with these holograms and hear the stories behind their gestures, celebrating a rich diversity of movement and personal history. The work’s immersive nature allows for both emotional gravity and contemplative engagement with the stories of fellow residents.
An Open Invitation to Experience Light Night Leeds
Light Night Leeds embodies the city’s commitment to fostering creativity, inclusion, and community engagement. Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, underscores the event’s broad reach: “This year everyone in Leeds can get involved in Light Night Leeds, whether they are able to attend or not. It’s great to see children participating and even showcasing some of their work at the event, as well as having so many of our residents being part of the actual artworks. As always, we are looking forward to one of the biggest cultural events of the year.”
Key features of this year’s Light Night Leeds include:
- Artwork designed by primary school children showcased at Wellington Place
- Interactive installations such as The Matter of the Hearts at Monk Bridge Viaduct Garden
- “Stitching Light” at Holy Trinity Church, telling migration stories through illuminated textiles
- The immersive Motus Mori PERPETUUM video installation at Assembly Street
- Accessibility for those in hospitals or residential care through creative activity packs
- Livestream options for those unable to attend in person
This annual event, sponsored by Northern Powergrid, continues to act as a powerful catalyst for creativity and community spirit, inspiring residents of all ages. For more information, updates, and livestream details, visit the official Light Night Leeds website or follow their social media profiles. The event will take place on October 22 and 23, from 6pm to 10pm, across various locations in Leeds, inviting everyone to experience the city in a new light.
- Light Night Leeds 2025 will take place on October 22-23 and will feature light art installations across the city.
- Four primary schools have collaborated with local artist Gemma Wood to design light artworks that will be showcased at Wellington Place.
- Northern Powergrid is the main sponsor of the event, enabling projects that celebrate creativity and community engagement.
- The festival’s theme is “Landmarks,” encouraging reflection on both civic structures and personal places of significance.
- Interactive installations like “The Matter of the Hearts” and “Stitching Light” will tell community stories through light and textiles.