Spotlight Caroline Daly
Caroline is a multidisciplinary artist with a background in theatre and performance design.
Skills Development Programme
The programme aims to encourage the development of high-quality light art with artists from a diverse range of backgrounds who may have never worked with light before.
This skills development programme is aimed at adult artists who are motivated and inspired to develop their practice towards creating work that could be commissioned by light art festivals and for exhibition in a gallery context.
Artists are supported by sector specialists to develop their ideas and gain knowledge on making and touring light art in festival and gallery contexts. Artists participating will gain practical experience and skills they can build on. The workshops are held in Blackpool and across the UK with Lightpool Partners.
Barnsley Council (Barnsley Bright Nights, Lightpool (Blackpool) and Wigan Council (Light Night Wigan). are delighted to announce an incredible opportunity for artists living and/or working in close proximity to the Barnsley, Blackpool and Wigan Borough.. The programme aims to encourage the development of high-quality light art with artists from a diverse range of backgrounds who may have never worked with light before.
WHEN
October to November 2026. Timetable below
WHERE
Blackpool, Barnsley, Wigan
FESTIVAL DATES
| Lightpool, Blackpool | 21-31 October |
| Barnsley Bright Nights | 20-21 November |
| Light Night Wigan | 20-22 November |
The Lightlab skills development programme is aimed at adult artists who are motivated and inspired to develop their practice towards creating work that could be commissioned by light art festivals and for exhibition in a gallery context.
Artists will be supported by sector specialists to develop their ideas and gain knowledge on making and touring light art in festival and gallery contexts. Artists participating will gain practical experience and skills they can build on.
This skills development programme is aimed at adult artists who are motivated and inspired to develop their practice towards creating work that could be commissioned by light art festivals, including Lightpool Festival, Barnsley Bright Nights and Light Night Wigan.
Artists will be supported by sector specialists to develop their ideas and gain knowledge on making and touring light art in festival and gallery contexts. Artists participating will gain practical experience and skills they can build on.
Expected learning outcomes are:
Selection of applicants will be made by the LightLab team (Lightpool, Barnsley Bright Nights and Light Night Wigan and a representative from the Light Up The North Network (LUTN). Artists will be selected on the following criteria:
| Description | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Closing date for applications | 10am 28 September 2026 |
| Selection Process | w/c 28 September 2026 |
| Notify successful applicants | 1 October 2026 |
| Blackpool Workshops | 27 & 28 October 2026 |
| Barnsley Workshops | 20 November 2026 |
| Wigan Workshops | 22 November 2026 |
| Final 5 Artists Notified | 27 November 2026 |
| Final Artist Development report | 8 December 2029 |
| Evaluation | 12 January 2027 |
Proposals are welcomed from artists working in all types of contemporary visual art practice, including photography, new media, fine art, artists’ moving image, sculpture, crafts, design, site-specific, socially engaged and interdisciplinary practices. We are accepting proposals from artists at early stages of their light art development and are particularly interested in artists who want to experiment, innovate and extend their practice.
Shortlisted artists will engage in an online conversation with the Lightlab team to explore their aspirations for this residency, and what other support may be needed and available.
We want to make sure that our opportunities are accessible to everyone. All artists are actively encouraged to apply and if any aspect of the application process presents accessibility issues for you please contact us.
Please include a short statement on your current practice and a simple outline of what you want to learn if you were to be offered the residency. You can also upload a document to support your application, but this is not essential. Please note, we can only accept one document
Please note we are not looking for existing designs or proposals for installations; we are interested in how your practice could benefit from attending this development programme. Applications can be made in either of the following (only submit 1):
Written text applications – Complete the application form below
Video submission – Please submit a brief video mp4, no longer than three minutes
Audio submission – Please submit a brief audio mp3, no longer than three minutes
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please email lightlab@lightpool.org.uk
‘Lightlab 2023 felt like a rare and special opportunity to gain insight into the commissioning process for light festivals. It had a great balance between learning from experienced professionals and also emerging artists in the light art field. Being part of a pitching process gave the group a chance to hear a range of feedback from curation teams for both your own ideas and those of the other participants. It was fantastic to be given the chance to develop my work further, which ultimately resulted in it being showcased at Lightpool 2024.’
Chloe Rodham
“My time on Lightlab 2023, ignited fruitful workplace relationships, sparked new ideas and supported developments in creative, sustainable solutions using light in my work”.
Tom Mortlock-Jackson
“The light lab trip was an amazing and inspiring opportunity to be immersed in the world of light art for two days.”
“This two-day trip to the home of Light Art was to – excuse the pun – the highlight of my year.”
“Attending Lightlab has enabled me to establish stronger relationships with local artists, and an opportunity to explore and understand their work.”
“A great opportunity to develop knowledge and expertise.”
Caroline is a multidisciplinary artist with a background in theatre and performance design.
I participated in Lightlab in 2023. Being part of the cohort was lots of fun – as a group we got valuable insights into how light festivals are curated and how artists have made work for them.
Biolluminate collaborates with communities through facilitated sound and film workshops. Through growing edible plants with local people to include in the installation, the project additionally creates a living sustainable cycle of its own.