Lyon Light Festival Forum 2024
Highlights of LLFF2024
Organised by LUCI and the City of Lyon, the 2024 edition of the Lyon Light Festival Forum (LLFF) aligned perfectly with the 25th anniversary of the Fête des Lumières. This landmark occasion celebrated the festival’s history while highlighting the transformative impact of light festivals worldwide.
Held from December 5 to 6, the Forum welcomed over 170 participants from 19 countries, including 21 cities officially represented. A diverse gathering of city representatives, festival organisers, artists, designers, and experts came together to discuss the History, Evolutions and Impacts of Light Festivals.
Cities & Lighting Awards:
Celebrating Urban Innovation
On the opening evening of LLFF2024, the Cities & Lighting Awards Ceremony honoured cities that have excelled in implementing innovative projects with the aim to improve sustainability and quality of life through urban lighting.
With an introduction by Sonia Zdorovtzoff, Deputy Mayor for International Relations of Lyon, the ceremony celebrated initiatives that blend sustainability, inclusivity, and creativity in urban design. We had the pleasure to welcome delegations from Genoa (1st prize), Eskilstuna (2nd Prize) and Bologna (3rd Prize). Special Mentions were also awarded to representatives from Lausanne and Jette.
A lively celebration amongst the urban lighting community and a privileged moment of exchange between peers!
Illuminating Insights: History, Evolution, and Eco-Design
After welcoming words from Sylvain Godinot, Deputy Mayor of Lyon for Ecological Transition and Heritage, and Bruno Paternot, Vice President of LUCI, the second day of LLFF2024 opened with a series of engaging talks on the history and evolution of the Fête des Lumières. Experts like sociologist Simona Mattia and urban planner Emmanuelle Gallot-Delamézière reflected on the festival’s development from its origins in the 1980s to its current status as an internationally renowned event.
Jean-Michel Deleuil, professor at the National Institute of Applied Sciences in Lyon, provided a retrospective on the festival’s dynamic transformation over 25 years, exploring how it has adapted to social, political, and technological shifts while maintaining its core mission of artistic innovation.
The session also tackled pressing environmental concerns with Sylvie Bétard’s presentation on eco-design and circularity, offering actionable strategies to minimize the ecological footprint of cultural events.
Keynote: Capturing the Impact of Light Festivals
Dr. Beatriz Garcia, a leading researcher in cultural policy and mega-events, delivered an engaging and provocative keynote exploring the multifaceted impacts of festivals.
Highlighting how light festivals can drive economic, social, cultural, and environmental change, she urged attendees to adopt coherent frameworks for measuring and showcasing these effects.
In her presentation, she underlined that in an era of ‘permacrisis,’ proving the transformative value of your work is essential to the survival of the festival sector.
LUCI members can access the presentation videos and materials on the LUCI Hub.
Dynamic Peer Exchange in Creative Lighting
In short but intense presentations followed by Q&A with the public, the forum’s Pecha Kucha sessions showcased diverse projects from around the globe.
Participants explored themes of sustainability, heritage, and community engagement, sparking creative exchanges among light festival organisers and artists.
Networking and Inspiration Amid Lyon’s Lights
During the Cities & Lighting Awards Ceremony and around the main programme of the Lyon Light Festival Forum, participants took advantage of networking opportunities to build connections and share visions for the future of light festivals.
Informal evening visits to the Fête des Lumières offered a firsthand look at Lyon’s artistic brilliance, also providing inspiration for new ideas and collaborations.
A Vision for the Future
The 2024 Lyon Light Festival Forum demonstrated its vital role as a hub for innovation and dialogue in creative lighting.
By exploring the intersections of sustainability, collaboration, and inclusivity, it charted a forward-thinking path for light festivals and urban lighting practices worldwide.
Thank you !
Thank you to all the participants of the Lyon Light Festival Forum 2024, including the brilliant speakers present, as well as the City of Lyon for co-organising this event. LUCI would also like to thank the University Jean Moulin Lyon 3 and its President, Gilles Bonnet, for welcoming the event at the Auditorium Malraux, and the Centre Nautique Tony Bertrand for hosting the Cities & Lighting Awards Ceremony.
A special thanks to Joseph Frey and the Darkitects team, that helped create a magnificent light atmosphere for our Awards Ceremony!
Share your feedback!
If you attended LLFF2024, please consider sharing your feedback with us!
Your responses to the following survey will be very helpful in planning future events of this kind: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/feedbacks-llff24
Event pictures
We are happy to share some photos from the event. You can access them here.
Please be sure to use the noted ©LUCI Association photo credits if sharing these via social media or your communication channels.
Photo credits
©Juliette Treillet, LUCI Association