Two of the North East’s leading providers of affordable homes have joined forces to support Durham’s hugely popular Lumiere Festival.

County Durham Housing Group and Prince Bishops Homes have signed up as joint sponsors of an exciting new lighting installation as part of the major LumiereFestival taking place in November.

The two firms were keen to support the spectacular event due to the positive impact it has upon the local economy and life in the community. The last Lumiere Durham, in 2015, attracted 200,000 visitors and brought more than £9.6m into the city; as well as providing employment and volunteering opportunities for local people.
The installation sponsored by County Durham Housing Group and Prince Bishops Homes will be one of up to 30 across Durham city centre and the surrounding area from 16 to 19 November.

County Durham Housing Group Chief Executive, Bill Fullen, said:

"Lumiere is a phenomenal event; it looks spectacular and it brings so many benefits to Durham. As an organisation committed to supporting local people, businesses and the community we were keen to get involved with Lumiere this November.
We can’t say too much about the installation itself just yet, but we hope that visitors as well as our tenants will appreciate and receive it well.
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The installation will be sited in a prominent location on the edge of the city centre with full details to be announced in the Autumn.

Charlotte Carpenter, Executive Director of Growth and Business Development at Karbon Homes, which owns Prince Bishops Homes, said:

"We’re delighted to be a part of Lumiere this year. It’s always such an impressive event, and really harnesses the huge pride that everyone connected with this beautiful city feels.
Prince Bishops Homes is currently building new properties across the North East, including  Rent to Buy homes for people aspiring to move on to the housing ladder, and we’re keen to get across the prominent role we play in developing strong, proud communities.
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Lumiere Durham is produced by leading arts charity Artichoke and commissioned by Durham County Council.

Sarah Coop, Development Director at Artichoke said:

"“We are delighted that County Durham Housing Group and Prince Bishops Homes are supporting the festival once again, following our partnership in 2015. We’re looking forward to working with them again for Lumiere Durham 2017.”
"

Back in Durham for the fifth time, artists from around the world will illuminate the city in delightful and unexpected ways, with a series of light installations to explore.

In 2015, 200,000 people came to Lumiere Durham to experience a spectacular programme of 29 light installations. Highlights included a ‘whale’ in the River Wear, mysterious fog tumbling down from the Cathedral and a projection that showed locals climbing the viaduct.