Nottingham Events, City Arts and It’s in Nottingham are seeking proposals of static, light-based installations for Nottingham Light Night 2026. This is an exciting opportunity to present work at this city-centre festival.
Nottingham Light Night is back on Friday 6 February and Saturday 7 February 2026. The event aims to bring innovative, interactive and engaging installations and activities to Nottingham city centre after dark. Previous events have attracted around 25,000 people each evening, with a social media reach of over 2.3 million.
To complement the larger scale installations that will appear around the city, we are inviting Nottingham and Nottinghamshire-based artists, creatives or cultural institutions to submit a proposal as a part of the event. This can be either working independently, or as a part of a collective.
Subject to a successful Arts Council England bid, four commissions each worth up to a total value of £6,500 will be funded.
Should the bid be unsuccessful, one commission up to a total value of £6,500 will be funded.
What we are looking for
We are interested in receiving static, site-specific proposals for the spaces highlighted below, that are dynamic and interactive. Work must be light-based, suitable for the outdoors, and avoid the use of projection mapping and lasers, due to other content already commissioned.
We are not wishing to commission processional or performance-based work.
The commissions must be presented on both nights of the event (between 5pm – 10pm), with any build or rehearsal requirements able to be accommodated on the day of the event. Access to proposed event locations will be from 8am on the day of the event.
Public spaces across the city that may be used include:
- Collin Street
- Sussex Street Amphitheatre
- Station Street
- King & Queen Street
- St Peter’s Square
- Smithy Row (Primark)
- Listergate
- Sneinton Market Avenues
Alternatively, you may propose other locations, but these will be subject to landowner permissions and may incur other costs that would need to be met from your commission award.
If needed, you will be supported by the team at City Arts to realise your proposal.
Selection and commissioning will be based on the quality of your idea and the ability to deliver within the timescales and budget.
Budgeting your proposal
Please build into your budget production costs including transport of your work and any specialist crew you may need to support its realisation, as well as artist fees, materials and any other relevant costs it will need.
Mains power and distribution, stewarding and security will be provided and should not form part of your outline budget.
Positive Action Statement
Proposals from those underrepresented in the arts including those from global majority backgrounds, low socio-economic backgrounds, disabled and/or neurodivergent artists, women or artists who identify as LGBTQIA+ are strongly encouraged.
Conditions
- Events and installations may be existing, build on previous or be brand new work. Proposals can represent any theme.
- Events and installations may seek additional funding from other sources to realise the event or installation; however the artist will be responsible for raising any additional funding required.
- Events and installations should consider the environmental impact of their proposal and how they plan to ensure the work is being created in the most environmentally conscious way and reflect this in proposals.
- Events and installations planning to fundraise via street donations as a part of the event or installation, will be responsible for seeking a permit for this activity. You should not fundraise to raise extra funds to meet the costs of the Light Night event or installation.
- Access to Light Night installations should be free of charge and be fully accessible for those with mobility issues.
- To participate, the artist must have valid public liability insurance certificate to the value of £2m for the activity staged. If you do not have public liability insurance, please contact recruitment@city-arts.org.uk for advice.
- Installations should also be able to submit a site-specific risk assessment for the activity staged.
How to submit your proposal
Download and complete the form below. Send your completed form to recruitment@city-arts.org.uk. Please also send supporting images and/or links to examples of your previous work.
The deadline for proposals is 5pm, Monday 24 November 2025.
Selected application(s) will receive notification by Thursday 27 November 2025.
If there’s anything about this recruitment process or the way we’ve promoted this opportunity that has created barriers to you applying, please let us know. We will do our best to support you and improve how we do things in future.