Winner of Global Teacher Prize and Chair of Arts Council England to speak at Lumiere Conference

The visionary programme will feature a range of inspiring speakers across four panel discussions. The speakers will offer insights from their experiences across a range of subjects including academia, art and education. The event is specially curated for educators and arts professionals and will aim to equip delegates with strategies to inspire learning and nurture creativity.

Highlights of the programme include the panel discussion, ‘Why we need creativity in learning’, featuring London-based art teacher, Andria Zafirakou, winner of the 2018 Global Teacher Prize. Jacqui O’Hanlon, Director of Education at the Royal Shakespeare Company, will be part of the panel discussion ‘Unlocking Children’s Creativity’.

Newly-announced speakers include Toby Ealden, Creative Director of Zest Theatre, who specialises in creating work for and with young people and award-winning design studio director, Tina Touli. The conference’s final keynote speech will be delivered by the Chair of Arts Council England and former Director of the Tate, Sir Nicholas Serota, who will discuss the recommendations of the Durham Commission on Creativity and Education.

Lumiere is commissioned by Durham County Council and produced by Artichoke. The light festival returns to Durham from 14th-17th November 2019 for a spectacular 10th anniversary edition, illuminating the city with over 30 artworks including past festival favourites and exciting new works by UK and international artists.

Helen Marriage, Artistic Director of Artichoke, said:

“We’re thrilled to be welcoming such an esteemed line-up of speakers across a diverse range of disciplines to the 2019 Lumiere Conference, which explores the vital importance of creativity in all areas and stages of learning. At a time when the arts are not being prioritised on the national curriculum, I look forward to hearing our speakers discuss the innovative and exciting ways in which we are all able to nurture creativity, and the varied and practical ways in which they each apply this to their own work.”

Cllr Simon Henig, Leader of Durham County Council, said: 

“The line-up for this year’s Lumiere conference is world-class and it will be a great honour to welcome so many leading figures in art and education into County Durham. We strongly believe in the power of creativity to educate and inspire. We are immensely proud of Lumiere and the many exciting community projects it has sparked, both in County Durham and around the world. This conference is an opportunity for artists and educators to come together to share ideas and explore innovative new approaches to learning.”