Lightpool

22/05/2026

21/05/2026

Anticipation has been building around the announcement of the new Strictly Come Dancing hosts, so it felt only fitting to share that excitement by lighting up the iconic Blackpool Tower with their names ✨

We can’t wait to give Emma, Johannes and Josh a truly special Blackpool welcome when they arrive in November 👋🏼

📸Dave Nelson

15/05/2026

🚨𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲!

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐥.

𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟏𝟓 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝟓𝐩𝐦!

We have two incredible 3D projection-mapping opportunities for digital artists to join our 2026 Lightpool Festival - 21-31 October!

𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫
Ever dreamed of seeing your work light up the world-famous Blackpool Tower? We are looking for a UK-based digital animator to create a fun, family friendly 3–4 minute 3D projection-mapped chapter - fee up to £7,000.

𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐥
We are seeking a UK-based digital artist to transform the Blackpool Wedding Chapel into a 3-4 minute immersive 3D experience - fee £5,000.

📅Deadline for both: 15 May 2026 5pm.

💙All successful applicants will receive expert technical support from the Lightpool and Lightworks team.

🔗 More details and how to apply can be found at lightpool.org.uk/lightpool-opportunities

15/05/2026

🚂 SHOWTOWN IS TAKING OVER THE RAILWAY 200 INSPIRATION TRAIN PARTNER CARRIAGE THIS WEEKEND! 🎪✨

From Friday at 2pm through to Sunday at 5pm, Showtown, Blackpool’s award-winning museum of fun and entertainment, will be taking over the Inspiration Train’s Partner Carriage at Blackpool North Station for a weekend celebrating the historic link between railways, entertainment and the legendary seaside resort of Blackpool.

🎟️ Tickets are FREE, but they’re going fast!
Book now! https://railway200.co.uk/location/blackpool-north-station-2/

Step aboard to:

🎭 Interact with objects from Blackpool’s entertainment past
🎪 Pick up circus skills
🚂 Discover how the railway helped transform Blackpool
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Enjoy hands-on activities for all ages

The Railway 200 exhibition train, Inspiration, is touring the UK to celebrate 200 years of the modern railway. This weekend Showtown is bringing a little Blackpool magic onboard.

15/05/2026

📢Freelance Job Opportunity!

Are you experienced in:

✅ Strategic partnerships and advocacy
✅ ACE-funded projects and reporting
✅ Evaluation and data analysis
✅ Managing programmes and multiple stakeholders
✅ Writing reports and supporting sector development

This could be a brilliant opportunity to join the Light Up the North network and work with our Lightpool team! ✨

We’re looking for someone passionate about collaboration, impact, and supporting the cultural sector.



Blackpool Council Arts Council England Creative Blackpool LeftCoast Aunty Social

📢We’re hiring: Programme Lead (Freelance)

We are seeking a Programme Lead to help deliver an ambitious programme of activity across the next two years. As a strategic network supporting the development of the light art sector, we bring together light festivals to share expertise, commission new artworks, support artists, carry out research, and strengthen collaboration across the sector.

We’re looking for someone with experience in...
✅ Strategic partnerships and advocacy
✅ ACE-funded projects and reporting
✅ Evaluation and data analysis
✅ Managing programmes and multiple stakeholders
✅ Writing reports and supporting sector development

We'll offer...
📍 Remote / flexible working
📅 Contract dates July 2026 – January 2028
🕒 Working pattern 48 days across 19 months (average 2.5 days per month)
💷 Fee £250 per day (£12,000 total fee)
🚆 Additional travel & subsistence budget available

Visit https://lightupthenorth.com/opportunity/programme-lead-for-lutn-2026-28/ to submit your CV + short supporting statement.
⏰Deadline: Midnight, 7 June 2026
📣Shortlisted applicants notified: 11 June 2026
🗓 Interviews: Week commencing 15 June 2026

LUTN is funded using public funds from Arts Council England.



📷Rainforest Butterflies by Anne Bennett. Nightfall Middlesbrough 2025. Photo Simon McCabe.

Visit Barnsley | Severn Arts | Bradford Culture Company | I love Oldham | Light Night Leeds | Lightpool | Experience Wakefield | Appetite | Quays Culture | Artichoke | Stellar Creates | Culture Liverpool | Flux Rotherham | Freedom Festival Hull | Things That Go On Things | Enchanted City Newcastle | Light Night Wigan

13/05/2026

✨ Blackpool artists - ready to level up your digital magic? ✨

Lightpool Digilab is back, and it’s bigger, bolder and brighter than a night on the Golden Mile.

If you’re an early‑career or developing artist with a spark for storytelling, light, or experimental visuals, this is your chance to dive into a free week‑long projection‑mapping lab led by the brilliant team at Imitating the dog- the creatives behind some of the UK’s most innovative site‑specific digital theatre.

Hosted at Lightworks, the beating heart of Blackpool’s world‑famous Illuminations, Digilab is where ideas get messy, skills get sharper, and artists get braver. Expect hands‑on experimentation, storyboarding, animation, projection‑mapping techniques, and the kind of creative collaboration that only happens when you put ambitious people in a room full of light.

➡️ Applications are open now!
💡 Free to take part
🚀 A genuine launchpad for digital artists in the North West.

If you know someone who should be in this room, tag them. If that someone is you, go for it - link in the comments. Let’s light up the future together.

07/05/2026

📢Applications now open for DigiLab!

A free 5-day workshop for anyone aged 18+ looking to develop skills in projection mapping, led by Imitating the dog in collaboration with us, hosted at our Lightworks HQ — the home of Blackpool Illuminations!

📅When? Monday 23 – Friday 27 November 2026

Participants will learn about imitating the dog's approach to site-specific projection-mapped installations, from storyboarding through to basic animation and mapping techniques.

🔗Find out more and apply https://www.imitatingthedog.co.uk/project/digilab-2026/?

📅Deadline to apply - Monday 6 July, 12pm.

📣 DigiLab 2026 applications are OPEN! 🙌

Perfect for anyone (18+) who wants to develop skills in projection-mapping, this FREE workshop week is led by imitating the dog, in collaboration with Lightpool and held at Lightworks, the home of Blackpool Illuminations, from Monday 23 - Friday 27 November 2026.

Participants will learn about our approach to site-specific projection-mapped installations, from storyboarding through to basic animation and mapping techniques.

Find out more over on our website 👇
imitatingthedog.co.uk/digilab-2026

📅 APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY MONDAY 6 JULY, 12PM

📸 Ed Waring for DigiLab 2025

06/05/2026

⚠️𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠!

📅𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟖 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, 𝟓𝐩𝐦

Lucent is our artist development initiative that celebrates big ideas from everyone—whether you’re a seasoned pro or a complete newcomer - we want to see your innovation and creativity!

💰 Up to £7,000 budget (production, materials, fabrication, installation costs)

📍 Local focus: One commission is reserved for artists from or living in Lancashire

🔗𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 https://lightpool.org.uk/lightpool-opportunities/lucent

Light Up the North Arts Council England

⭐ Lucent Open Call!

Lucent is our artist development initiative that celebrates big ideas from everyone—whether you’re a seasoned pro or a complete newcomer - we want to see your innovation and creativity!

💰 Up to £7,000 budget (production, materials, fabrication, installation costs)

📍 Local focus: One commission is reserved for artists from or living in Lancashire

📅 Deadline: 8 May 2026 at 5pm

🔗 Find out more and apply https://lightpool.org.uk/lightpool-opportunities

06/05/2026