BUSINESSES have pledged financial support to stage this year’s popular Lumiere festival.

The spectacular light festival is due to return to the streets of Durham for four successive nights starting on November 12.

Producers Artichoke and Durham County Council have signed up a string of supporters from the business community to sponsor the event.

Tyneside-based furniture manufacturer Godfrey Syrett is sponsoring the Lumiere Gala Dinner at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Durham on November 11, which will raise funds towards the staging of the festival.

Neil Raw, General Manager at the Radisson Blu Hotel said, “It is a pleasure to be involved as a partner of Lumiere for the third time this year, supporting an internationally recognised festival that showcases our beautiful, historic city to the rest of the UK.”

Longstanding Lumiere supporter John Adamson, director of Ramside Hall Estates, is donating a portion of every ticket sold for the Hardwick Live event in Sedgefield to Lumiere.

He said, “As Durham has the privilege of hosting this wonderful festival of light, it is vitally important that local businesses enthusiastically support and embrace this rare opportunity.

“The enjoyment and the economic benefit that Lumiere brings to the city should be appreciated.”

Opportunities are still available for companies to sponsor an artist installation or donate a prize to the Gala Dinner auction.

Sarah Coop, Artichoke Development Director said, “Lumiere wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our sponsors and we’re incredibly grateful to the businesses who are working with us, and to our funders Durham County Council and Arts Council England who pledged £1.1m to bring the festival back to Durham in 2015.

“With their help, we have raised 90 per cent of the total festival budget of £1.8m and we’re now looking to find the last £150,000 to light up Lumiere for a fourth fantastic year.”