Sherwoods announce partnership with Lumiere Festival 2023

Sherwoods are proud to once again support the Lumiere Festival this year, which will take place from the 16^th-19^th November. A major highlight of the north-east calendar, the Durham-based festival – which invites artists both locally and internationally-renowned to create works which reimagine familiar landmarks – will return for its ninth event since its inception in 2009.

The last event in 2021 had participants such as schoolchildren, young carers, veterans, people with disabilities, and people with lived experience of mental health issues help in the creation of installations Plastica Botanica and City of Light. This year sees the festival working alongside climate experts A Greener Festival to undertake a carbon impact assessment of the event to help deliver a sustainable and environmentally-conscious event, with festival producers Artichoke one of many outdoor events and businesses signed up to Vision: 2025 to help take climate action towards net zero.

This year has also seen our donation matched by the Durham Community Foundation, allowing us to support their Poverty Hurts Appeal. With £925,000 raised by supporters and fundholders, the Appeal has helped over 35,000 people via community groups and charities, provided supplies to those struggling with the rising cost of living – with 88% of people in the most deprived areas being reached - and funded new projects to enrich local communities, with £642,000 worth of grants being raised.

The most notable grants in action throughout 2022-23 include Serving County Durham & Darlington, Derwentside Detached Youth Project, West Rainton and Leamside Partnership and North East Dance CIC. Michelle Cooper, the Chief Executive of the Durham Community Foundation, has said of the project: “The Poverty Hurts Appeal is over, but poverty isn't. Our challenge now is to act on the urgent need today and work to eliminate the need tomorrow by enriching lives and creating stability for people.”  

Sherwoods Managing Director Simon MacConachie said, “As a family business, we've always seen it as part of our role to support the local community. Lumiere is a really special event which local people and their families enjoy every two years. We’re proud to support it and see it light up the city once again. It’s terrific to have our donation matched by Durham Community Foundation which will go to their Poverty Hurts Appeal and the vital work it does in the County."

We are very excited to continue our partnership with the Lumiere Festival and cannot wait to see the brilliant work they will present in Durham this November.