Contract dates: July 2026 – January 2028 inclusive
Fee: £250 per day; total fee available (across contract duration) £12,000
Working pattern: 48 days over 19 months; Average 2.5 days per month, flexible + remote
Budget of up to £1,200 (across 19months) to cover travel and subsistence whilst on LUTN business.
About Light Up the North (LUTN)
Light Up The North is a network of light festivals committed to sharing expertise, driving innovation, & supporting excellence across the sector. LUTN network consists of light festival members in: Barnsley, Blackpool, Bradford, Durham, Hull, Lancaster, Liverpool, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Oldham, Rotherham, Salford, Stoke, Wakefield, Wigan & Worcester.
The representatives of each member festival are united by a shared ethos of collaboration. They bring expertise based on a collective & rich foundation of cultural practice & technical knowledge. They offer cross-festival support to LUTN members, sharing best practice & enhancing skills across the light art sector in producing outdoor events & festivals.
Role
We see the Programme Lead working over a period of 19 months, spreading 48 days out accordingly and in line with what is best for delivering the role.
As this is a new role, we expect that it will be, to some extent, shaped by the successful applicant, working with the Chair of LUTN and the LUTN accountable body.
The role is funded through the ACE Project Grant.
The appointed freelancer will enter into a contract with Blackpool Council (as the accountable body) for the fee and work programme to be delivered. Regular update meetings between the Chair of LUTN and the LUTN accountable body will be timetabled in from the start date.
Person Specification
The right candidate will:
- Be highly organised and focussed on key tasks.
- Be a good communicator and advocate able to work with people and organisations, developing partnerships, at a strategic level.
- Be a self-starter capable of working independently.
- Have experience of managing successful projects with multiple stakeholders and timelines.
- Have experience of working on ACE-funded projects, and reporting to ACE.
- Be experienced in evaluation.
- Be able to analyse data and write compelling reports.
You may also have:
- Experience of reporting to a non‑executive board.
- Experience of working on the development of light festivals and commissioning artists to create new work for diverse outdoor locations.
- Experience of writing and delivering strategic plans and/or funding bids.
- Experience of delivering conferences.
FEE: £12,000 total excluding VAT
The fee is based on £250 per day, and an average of 2.5 days per month, although it is expected that the workload will be weighted to certain months in the year.
The fee is payable monthly on a retrospective basis.
You would be formally contracted by Blackpool Council and will require a UTR to receive payment through invoices and to meet the Council’s due diligence contracting procedures.
There is an additional expenses allowance of £1,200 throughout the contract term.
To apply
Visit our website and submit your CV with a short supporting statement (no longer than 2 pages) describing your suitability and interest in the role. Please outline how your skills and experience fit the Key Tasks.
Submit by email toadmin@lightupthenorth.com.
Deadline: Midnight 7 June 2026.
Shortlisted applicants will be notified by 11 June 2026.
Interviews will be held onw/c 15 June 2026.
Contact information
To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please email.
chair@lightupthenorth.com
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