Join us in celebrating York with Colour & Light!

What is Colour & Light?

Colour & Light is a high impact and large-scale visual arts project, using 3D projection mapping to bring York’s iconic buildings to life. The project launched in 2023 in partnership with York Minster and returned in 2024 in partnership with York Museums Trust.

The project involves projecting a 10-minute animated display onto the outside of York’s most loved buildings, using the latest innovations in projection mapping to deliver an impactful and captivating display. The projection plays every 10 minutes between 6 and 9pm to support the early evening economy and enhance York’s cultural offering.

We are currently exploring locations for the 2025 event, and we are inviting businesses of all sizes to join us as funding partners. Your support will ensure we can continue to deliver this project, which has become a much-loved and highly-anticipated event in the York calendar. With your support, we hope to build on the success of the event to create an accessible and family-friendly experience that excites, engages and inspires.

Without funding support, Colour & Light 2025 will not happen.

How you can support Colour & Light 2025

Colour & Light has been hugely successful over the last two events, attracting 80,000 viewers and an adding an estimated £1 million to the local economy. This project is all about supporting businesses at a typically quieter time of year, and the events have seen restaurants at full capacity, with some even running out of food during the installation! With your support, we are confident that the 2025 event will be an even greater success.

Colour & Light is an ambitious project that will transform York’s cityscape during a dark and quiet time of year. The project will have a significant impact on the city, including increased visitor numbers, enhanced economic activity, and a boost to civic pride. The hope is that the project will have a lasting impact on viewers, broadening people’s perceptions of York as a dynamic, exciting and creative city.

There is a huge appetite to deliver this project again in early 2025, and we are now asking business and city leaders to support the event as funding partners.

What are the benefits of the project?

The Colour & Light project is a key part of York BID's strategy to make the city centre a more attractive and vibrant place to live, work, and visit. The project will:

  • Increase footfall and sales in the city centre during a typically quiet time of year for business
  • Promote York’s UNESCO City of Media Arts designation and enhance the city's reputation as a top cultural destination
  • Support the city’s Purple Flag priorities, promoting a diverse and family friendly nighttime environment and encouraging visitors to stay in the city after dark
  • Create an unmissable experience that will enhance civic pride and increase cultural engagement.

How much does the event cost?

The cost to deliver the project is £45,000. This includes:

  • The development and installation of the projection (33%)
  • Equipment costs (33%)
  • The marketing and promotion of the project (10%)
  • The staffing costs for the security team looking after the installation (12%)
  • Safety and security measures (12%).

Why the project matters

York BID is committed to delivering projects that enhance visitor experience and support the local economy. Our ambition is to deliver this as a partnership project to demonstrate a coordinated approach to York’s UNESCO City of Media Arts designation and support for the local economy at a time when businesses are continuing to face rising costs and a squeeze on customer spend.

This is a fantastic opportunity to support businesses in the city centre and we are inviting you to join us in delivering this special event in 2025.

Your Investment

There are two investment opportunities available:

Funding Partner, £5,000

As a funding partner, you will have:

  • Recognition on the York BID website and socials
  • Your company logo displayed across all digital marketing of the event
  • Your company logo displayed on public facing signage
  • Use of the York BID brand and design assets
  • An invitation to the official launch event.

Lead Funding Partner, £10,000

As a Lead Funding partner, you will have:

  • All the benefits of a Funding Partner
  • Your company logo featured prominently as part of the projection, playing every 10 minutes between 6-9pm to thousands of viewers
  • Recognition across all media coverage and interview opportunities
  • Your company logo prominently displayed across all print and digital marketing of the event, including table toppers and event stands that will be in place during the lead up to the event.

This is your chance to have a positive impact on the city and local economy. The event offers a brilliant return on investment through an unparalleled opportunity to expose your brand to large local, regional and national audiences, promoting your organisation to thousands of potential new customers; and the opportunity to align your brand to a much-loved and world-class city centre improvement initiative.

If you are interested in becoming a funding partner for this project, please contact info@theyorkbid.com or call us on 01904 809970.

We look forward to hearing from you!

About York BID

York Business Improvement District (BID) represents over 900 businesses in the city centre. We work to improve York for businesses and visitors alike. Our work includes:

  • Marketing and promotion
  • Business support
  • Public realm improvements
  • Security and safety.

Contact

For more information and to discuss your investment, please contact us via:

Thank you for your interest in partnering with us for Colour & Light 2025.

Contact Us