LUMI Workshops - Expressions of interest

Giant Lantern Workshops – Help Create the Magic of LUMI

The giant lantern workshops are where the heart and spectacle of LUMI truly come to life.

In these hands‑on, collaborative sessions, participants will work together to create large‑scale marine lanterns — turtles, rays, sea creatures and ocean forms — that will become glowing centrepieces of the festival. These lanterns are not just decorations; they are shared artworks, built by many hands, carrying the stories, energy and care of the community into the night.

These workshops will be supported by an extraordinary group of artists and performers, many of whom have been trained by the wonderfully talented Sally Hart, whose work is known for blending movement, storytelling, light and large‑scale visual magic. This is a rare opportunity to learn techniques used in professional lantern and performance builds while contributing to something meaningful and collective.

Adult‑Only Lantern Builds – Create, Connect, Support

Some of the giant lantern workshops will be ticketed, adult‑only sessions and will include wine, charcuterie boards, and a relaxed creative atmosphere. These evenings are designed to be social, immersive and generous — a chance to slow down, make something extraordinary, and connect with others who value creativity and community.

All funds raised through these sessions go directly back into making LUMI stronger and more inclusive. In particular, proceeds help provide practical, meaningful prizes and equipment for children — the things they actually want and need, such as tennis racquets, netballs, soft sports equipment and lower nets so younger kids can play and participate with confidence.

Decorative Lantern Workshops – Sophisticated, Personal, and Beautiful

Not everyone wants to build big — and LUMI celebrates that.

Alongside the giant lantern builds, LUMI will offer a series of smaller, more manageable decorative lantern workshops for people who want to focus on detail, elegance and individual expression, while still contributing to the magic of the festival.

These workshops are designed for teens and adults who enjoy thoughtful making — where colour, texture, form and subtle light matter just as much as scale. Participants will create refined marine‑inspired lanterns that reflect the rhythms of the sea: flowing lines, shell‑like structures, delicate patterns, and luminous surfaces that glow beautifully after dark.

While smaller in size, these lanterns are no less sophisticated. They are designed to be:

• carried in the Lantern Parade

• displayed throughout the festival grounds

• or hung as part of LUMI’s immersive night‑time landscape

Each piece adds to the layered visual richness of the event — hundreds of individual lights combining into something greater than any single lantern.

Learning, Not Just Making

These workshops are guided by experienced facilitators and artists connected to professional lantern and performance traditions. Many of those involved have trained under the wonderfully talented Sally Hart, bringing with them a strong foundation in design, balance, movement and illumination.

Participants will learn techniques that elevate their work beyond craft and into artful construction, all within a relaxed, supportive environment. No prior experience is required — just curiosity, patience, and a love of light.

Why Choose a Decorative Lantern Workshop?

• Create something beautiful and personal

• Learn professional lantern‑making techniques in an accessible format

• Participate in LUMI without committing to large‑scale builds

• Be part of the Lantern Parade and visual landscape

• Take home skills you can reuse and build on

These workshops are ideal for people who want to immerse themselves in the creative spirit of LUMI while working at a scale that feels calm, achievable and deeply satisfying.

Smaller doesn’t mean simpler — it means intentional.
And these lanterns will shine just as brightly 🌊✨

🐚 Decorative Lantern Workshop – Teens & Adults

(Expression of Interest / Ticketed when released)

Create a smaller, beautifully detailed lantern inspired by the marine theme of LUMI — flowing lines, ocean forms, shells and light.

These workshops focus on craftsmanship, colour and design, offering a calm, accessible way to be part of LUMI’s visual magic without the scale of the giant builds. Lanterns will be suitable for carrying in the Lantern Parade or displaying on the night.

Guided by experienced facilitators connected to professional lantern and performance traditions.
No experience needed — just curiosity and care.