Durham's Summer in the City festival goes digital and includes ‘Lighting Up the Home’ competition

The Festival aims to celebrate Durham City’s theatre, music and art. The inaugural event, held throughout June 2019, attracted around 19,000 visitors.

For 2020 the Festival is moving online, with a programme of events throughout June including exhibitions and performances to enjoy digitally and do-it-yourself activities to encourage everyone to get creative from home.

Highlights include ‘Lighting Up the Home’, a competition inspired by the Lumiere light festival, which will challenge people to create light installations at home.

There will also be an exhibition of art by young people aged 12 to 17 working on their Arts Award Bronze qualification and funded by Arts Council England, a sketchbook project with the Brooklyn Art Library, an online short film festival, interactive art walks, a brass band composition competition, family do-at-home theatre, art and crafts workshops, a micro music festival titled ‘Performance In Lockdown’, opportunities to share artworks via a Community Art Club and a virtual affordable art market run by Thought Foundation.

Jeremy Cook, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Colleges and Student Experience) at Durham University, said: “We have some fantastically talented student actors, musicians and artists at Durham University and we’re proud of the contribution they make to Durham’s cultural life.

“Though we can’t stage student shows and concerts right now, this year’s Summer in the City Festival will in its own way be just as exciting, as we experiment with what can be done online. The programme is a great mix, so I’d encourage everyone to see how they can get involved.”

Coun Joy Allen, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for transformation, culture and tourism, said: “In these difficult times it is more important than ever to do things we enjoy and look after our mental health and wellbeing. It is well known that culture and the arts can lift our spirits and so I am delighted the Summer in the City Festival has moved online so we can still experience it together this year.”

For more information visit: www.sitcfestival.org

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