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An amazing display. I was really impressed at the genial atmosphere, especially between local people and students. I never expected a sleepy little town like Durham to do something so exciting and forward-thinking. A fantastic festival I would love to see back again next year. Durham could definiely benefit from more events like this.
Holly Lewars | 2 December 2009 | Durham
Fantastic display- overawed by the display projected on to the Cathedral. Found Park and Ride adequate at the time we travelled (6pm and8.30pm).
Michael Gray | 29 November 2009 | Sunderland
I thoroughly enjoyed Lumiere but felt the park and ride a shambles. The buses should have been more regular than every 20 minutes. There was at least three bus loads waiting in our queue and more arriving all the time. If you did not manage to squash on one bus you had a long wait for the next one. On the way back the queue at The Gates was so long we decided to walk back to the park and ride (quite a long uphill walk). I felt really sorry for anyone with young children, elderly or disabled as the walk would have been impossible for them but the alternative was a long, long wait for a bus. Perhaps it would have been better to levy a small charge to pay for extra buses, I am sure people would rather have been than been left standing for hours. I think this issue should be addressed if it is to become a regular event
Cath Fieldson | 23 November 2009 | Bishop Auckland
Thoroughly enjoyed Lumière and would love the see more of the same. My little group experienced none of the issues previously mentioned by the moaning minnies (some of whom would find fault with perfection I daresay).
HIGHLIGHTS: The Cathedral (excellent timing as well so that it was easy for all to see and see again if desired). the Riverbank (plenty of folk there to help direct everyone and it was positively ethereal).
In short, genius.
Rachael | 22 November 2009 | Newcastle
Absolutely breath-taking. The best part , as many have said, has to be the projections on the cathedral, as well as the eerie, musical pendulums inside it.
I’d just like to say that though there were a large amount of students present, most people were local residents, often with their families. Those that weren’t local had travellled a long way to photograph the stunning installations.
1 or 2 quibbles:
1) As had already been said it was difficult to obtain a map and there needs to be better publicity to people outside of Durham- this easily rivals anything in the South, including Birmingham and London.
2) There seemd to be too much in the way of health and safety where it was not needed (the fenced of interactive exhibit by the Gala theatre) and too little where it was ( barriers along the dark and swollen river banks might have been useful)
Most of these are minor organisational teething problems of a new festival and I expect Artichoke/ Durham council will have sorted them for the next one in 2011.
Final verdict ? Absolutely brilliant!
Charlie | 22 November 2009 | Durham
Fantastic show. Went on Saturday and had to return on Sunday. Cathedral and Btanic gardens had to be the highlight. Despite what others say about parking, I used the park and ride which worked well although 2 busses would have reduced queuing - I imagine guessing numbers of visitors must have been a major headache.
Obtaining a booklet guide proved difficult until the end of sunday evening when they were offered as souvenirs.
Overall, a stunning weekend, I look forward to the next one.n deytrikh | 21 November 2009 | stanhope co durham
Thought the peices at the cathedral on on the church were great, and it was good to see Durham so full. Quite a few of the peices elsewhere lacked impact. Main feeling leaving was annoyance at the terrible crowd management, and the lack of thought re car parks etc. leaving Palace Green my family felt very unsafe. Getting back to the car to find all the loos locked at 7.30ish we felt very annoyed!
Andrew | 21 November 2009 | Stockton-on-Tees
My family & I visited Durham on Saturday night, mainly because of the bad weather on previous evenings but especialy to see the fire parade, which I’d realy been looking forward to…. however…. How badly organised was the parking????!! for heavens sake why were so many car parks closed? why was there no sign of anybody (not even police) directing traffic where to park? we ended up parking outside somebodys house at Gilesgate, after a mamoth walk into the city we missed the start of the fire parade & were informed by a very friendly girl in a LCD T-shirt that we wouldnt get anywhere near to the bridge where the event was taking place anyway because of the sheer volume of people… eventualy we did catch a glimpse of the show as it made its way to the Market Place…. I stood on the top of the back of a bench with my teenage daughter to just mange to see the smallest amount of the show however my 10 year old daughter, boyfriend & 3 year old step son saw none of the event at all…
We all very much enjoyed the show at the cathedral, however there was no way on earth we could actualy get into the cathedral to see what was happening inside…. we enjoyed the Nine men Drawing lights on Palace Green & the dress in the shop window along Saddler Street was very eerie… we walked along to Prebends bridge to see the lights along there too…however I was disappointed that the interactive display ‘motion field’ was fenced off & heavily guarded!!!
All in all the Lumiere staff were very friendly & helpfull pointing us in the right direction & such but over all I thought the event wasn’t prepared for such a large number of visitors & could of been much much better organised….. next time do something about the parking please!Angela Graham | 21 November 2009 | Ferryhill county durham
Fabulous event and very well done. Only problem: crowd management around the Cathedral. Some kind of one-way system would be good; as it was, the crushes were enormous and could have become dangerous. Also, we could not access the inside where I believe there was another installation
Rupert Richardson | 20 November 2009 | CROOK
I came to Durham specially for Lumiere on Thursday night and was not disappointed. I spent a wonderful afternoon in Clayport library cutting up plastic bottles for the “Bottle Festoon” which I then didn’t manage to see - despite the best efforts of the friendly local taxi driver! Must find a photo on the website. The cathedral was stunning both inside and out and I had a spellbinding visit to Power Plant - it even stopped raining in time. Thanks for a wonderful experience and I do hope I can come back in 2011 - I’ll even cut up more bottles!
Wendy White | 20 November 2009 | Cambridge
The event was spectacular and on the whole very well done, but the crowd control at the end of the light shows at the Cathedral was poor to say the least…..as actually there did not seem to be any. From a safety angle, the huge surge of people being funnelled away from the Cathedral down narrow old alleys and into Saddler Street created a huge risk of injury or even death, as the volume of people would easily have crushed or trampled anybody who fell, or stumbled. People were trying to ‘swin against the tied’ by walking up Saddler Street as the show ended and the huge crowds surged down the street - it is a wonder there were no serious injuries. Future events will need much better crowd control - perhaps a pedestrian one way system like Oxford Street in London at Christmas - as you may not be so lucky next time. Looking forward to an even better and safer show in 2011!
John | 20 November 2009 | Hart
Brilliant Culture10 event . Thanks to all concerned. The image of The Lindisfarne Gospels on Durham Cathedral sent shivers down the spine and is surely a statement of what must happen in the future . Thanks to the British Library for loaning the image, Look forward to their longer term return. Only Criticism was that maps weren’t hanaded out to people on arrival at car parks. Otherwise a great event that bodes well for City of Culture bid.
Charlotte | 20 November 2009 | Newcastle
If this light festival does return pleeeeeaaaaase can we have some proper traffic management? The westbound traffic was at a standstill for nearly an hour whilst numpties sat in their cars blocking Leazes Bowl roundabout waiting for non-existant parking spaces to materialize in the Prince Bishops centre. All these illuminated sculptures and no illuminated signs showing starngers where to park or Police direction? Come on, wake up.
From the positive comments about the actual dispaly I would be tempted to visit next time, but if it’s another chaotic traffic mess I’ll keep away.
Ed | 20 November 2009 | Durham
My organisation was approached to be involved in the Lumiere project in July. I was asked to project manage our contribution and on seeing the end result I can say I am very privileged and proud to have had the opportunity to do so.
I visited Durham City on Sunday night with family and friends and was completely awestruck by the displays. The Cathedral in particular was spectacular and the crowds that had gathered on the palace green to enjoy the ‘Crown of Light’ were evident of that. The riverbanks were transformed, the bridges were spectacular and the rooftops sparkled and were a joy to see. I have heard nothing but praise and positive comments from family, friends and colleagues with one of my colleagues describing the event as ‘spine tingling’
I am sure this event has put Durham City well and truly on the map as a candidate for the City of Culture 2013.
I would like to say ‘CONGRATULATIONS’ to Helen and Nicky for putting on such a successful and spectacular event. Thank you to all the artists for their fantastic contributions and to Sky Arts for covering the event in a professional and imaginative way.Lynda Elliott | 19 November 2009 | Durham
keep coming back to see what others have said - Bonner, the lights were LEDs, it’s been inb the papers. The normal street lights were turned off. Less carbon emissions and less light pollution. Seeing almost every constellation in the night sky over any UK city is a miracle, but Durham managed it for 4 nights.
maisie | 18 November 2009 | sunderland