A one-day conference for the curious at Lumiere 2015, the UK's largest outdoor light festival, exploring how light can change the world through science, the arts, spirituality and public space.

Hosted by Artichoke in association with Durham County Council, Light, Art, the Universe and Everything will bring together local, UK and international experts and pioneers working across medicine, culture, technology, the environment, religion, architecture and education. It will take place as part of the fourth edition of Lumiere, which returns to Durham from 12th-15th November 2015.

The event will be chaired by former BBC Economics Editor Stephanie Flanders and speakers will include writer and broadcaster Rosie Boycott; architect and lighting designer Elettra Bordonaro; non-profit solar lighting entrepreneur Illac Diaz; brain cancer researcher and paediatric oncologist Dr Jim Olson and social activist Thabang Skwambane, who is working to improve the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children in South Africa.

Come and hear how their ideas are changing people’s lives: from revolutionising medicine using cutting-edge research and bringing light to communities without electricity, to transforming the places we live with amazing art installations and ground-breaking building design.

Inspired by the International Year of Light, the conference has been granted the patronage of UNESCO - the organisation's highest form of support for an exceptional event.

For more details about the conference programme, please visit the Lumiere website. 

"A rare opportunity to hear some of our most inspiring and respected thinkers, scientists, artists and administrators from across the globe considering the significance, meaning and possibilities of the magical phenomenon of light." – Helen Marriage, Artistic Director, Artichoke

If you'd like to pay by invoice, need assistance with your booking, or you're planning to stay overnight in Durham, the city's Visitor Contact Centre can help you find accommodation, plan your visit and answer questions about the conference. Contact them on 03000 26 26 26 or email visitor@thisisdurham.com. The centre is open Monday-Saturday 9.30am-5.30pm, Sundays and Bank Holidays 11am-4pm. Calls from landlines are charged at a local rate and mobiles may vary. We recommend booking accommodation early, as hotels fill up quickly during the festival.
 

Image: SOLAR EQUATION by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer (Mexico/Québec). Supported by Durham University, Québec Government Office, London and BOC. Commissioned by Federation Square, Melbourne, for the Light in Winter. LUMIERE 2013, produced by Artichoke in Durham. Photo Matthew Andrews.