Bright Lights returns
The youth-led arts festival spreads across Sunderland venues
Bright Lights: Youth Arts Festival will return later this month, placing young people’s creativity at the centre of a multi-venue programme across Wearside.
Now in its fifth year, the festival brings together exhibitions, performances and workshops at Arts Centre Washington (ACW) and Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, showcasing work by children and young people from across the city. The programme is supported by Sunderland Culture through its Culture Start initiative, which aims to widen access to creative activity for children growing up in low-income households.
At the heart of the festival is the Bright Lights Youth Arts Exhibition, running from tomorrow (February 7) to March 14 at ACW.
The exhibition has been curated by the Celebrate Different Collective, a group of young people aged 13–25 who co-produce cultural events and develop skills through hands-on involvement. This year’s theme, Connections, prompted more than 200 submissions, with around 50 artworks selected for display.
Lois Watson, a member of the Collective, said: “There were some really strong pieces of artwork submitted and we all enjoyed seeing the different interpretations of the ‘connections’ theme.”
As well as shortlisting, the Collective was involved in curating the pieces and deciding how the artwork will be displayed.
Fellow Collective member Yassin Yousif said: “You can see the talent and hard work that has gone into the creating the exhibition, which we hope everyone will enjoy.”
Alongside the display, Arts Centre Washington will host a series of Bright Lights events, including a Film Shorts Showcase on February 25, a new theatre production Butterfly on February 26, and Washington Emerging, an evening of live music by young performers, on February 27.
Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens will host a Fringe programme, including a Sunderland College student takeover exploring the city’s darker history and a Creative Takeover event featuring live music, screenings and artwork by students.
New for 2026 is the Highlights: Disability Arts Exhibition, shown alongside the main exhibition at Arts Centre Washington, offering a platform for deaf, disabled and neurodivergent young artists.
Matt Blyth, culture and heritage officer at ACW, said: “Now in its fifth year, the festival continues to grow year on year, offering young people an inspiring platform to showcase and celebrate their creativity.”
Full details and ticket information are available via the Sunderland Culture website.