Commissioned by Colmore BID, OPUS are pleased to be producing and delivering Birmingham Light Festival
Birmingham Light Festival illuminated and transformed city-centre spaces indoors and out through a gallery of artworks, performances, and interventions. Free to access, it connected curious audiences with both their city and each other in a creative, positive and playful way. The inaugural event ran 19-22 February 2025 and followed a successful test event, Light is Coming, in March 2024.
The programme included a broad mix of installations, activations and participatory activities. Many of these were designed to improve wellbeing and boost both physical and mental health - including a 5k light run around the installation route, a night kayak and a silent disco.
Festival Evaluation Findings:
63,839 visits to the inaugural festival
100% of funders and event partners and 99% of audiences want Birmingham Light Festival to return in 2026
50+ fringe events in Arts Venues and Hospitality Organisations and 49 festival partners
960 Volunteer hours, worth £13,853
76.8% of audiences travelled sustainably
71% increase in footfall in city-centre spaces activated during the festival
85% of visitors agreed that they felt more connected to the city as a result of attending Birmingham Light Festival
Creating a sense of playful curiosity and spark joy, Birmingham Light Festival 2025 featured 11 extraordinary artworks, all within walking distance of each other, encouraging visitors to come together and explore the city. 3 of the illuminated artworks still remain in place after the festival, as Birmingham Light Festival seeks to brighten city centre spaces progressively over time.
OPUS approached the programme holistically, taking into consideration available sites and budgets. We programmed a range of artworks, from architecturally designed pieces to interactive activations. The programme of temporary artworks included work with positive messaging, designed to evoke curiosity and draw audiences in.
Photos by Lensi Photography and Irina Mackie.
OPUS were responsible for:
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Creative direction, event design and programme producing;
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Event Direction, Production and Technical management, and full supplier management;
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Artist liaison and contracting;
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Stakeholder, landowner and City Council liaison;
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Graphic design services for onsite signage;
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Creative evaluation design, onsite surveys and full project data analysis;
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All event documentation including Event Management Plans, full RAMS and adverse weather planning.
Creative Play
Alongside this, OPUS designed and produced a brand new interactive event - Floor is LAVA x Silent Disco. Currently available for touring, find out more about it here.
OPUS also created a new play activation for All England Badminton - illuminated Night Badminton sessions turned a familiar game into a dazzling night time experience.
These playful interventions are part of OPUS’ commitment to transforming public space through light, art, and participation.
Light is Coming
All great ideas have to start somewhere, and the seed of the idea of Birmingham Light Festival began to truly grow with the delivery of a test event in March 2024.
Alex Nicholson-Evans (City Curator), Outdoor Places Unusual Spaces and Colmore BID joined forces to bring a dazzling mirror ball installation to the city centre. Part funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Our Beating Heart popped up in Snow Hill Square between Thurs 21 to Sat 23 March.
This giant heart-shaped mirror ball reflected natural light during the day, and as the sun set, it transformed the space with fantastical dancing lights and an eye-catching wash of colour. Visitors to Our Beating Heart were invited to share their thoughts and that insight informed our thinking and planning of the festival that will debut in Feb 2025. You can read more about this part of the Birmingham Light Festival journey here.