So the plug is to be pulled on Lumiere after next month’s ninth edition, which - this being the paradoxical nature of things - may well see another record-breaking attendance.
Or might there somehow be a stay of execution, as North East Mayor Kim McGuinness suggests?
By any standard Lumiere has been a huge success, arriving every two years with reminders – from Durham County Council and London-based producer Artichoke - of the benefits it brings.
It became, according to Artichoke in its bombshell announcement earlier this week, “the UK’s pre-eminent light art biennial, inspiring many other events across the UK”.
It has attracted more than 1.3 million visitors, contributed £43 million to the local economy and involved more than 14,000 local residents and schoolchildren through learning and participation projects.
It has relied on the support of hundreds of local businesses, institutions and supporters and, of course, it has seen work by internationally renowned artists displayed in Durham.
Who would want that to stop?
Helen Marriage, chief executive and artistic director of Artichoke, called the end of Lumiere in Durham “a real tragedy” but said the decision had not been taken lightly.
Lumiere, she said, was “unique in Artichoke’s portfolio” as a regularly occurring event, made possible through partnerships with the county council, Arts Council England and, for the first time this year, North East Combined Authority (NECA).
But to sustain a festival of this scale and ambition required investment and commitment at a level increasingly difficult to secure.
“Rather than diminish what makes Lumiere extraordinary, we have chosen to close this chapter with celebration,” she went on.
“While this marks the end of Lumiere in Durham, its legacy will live on in the memories of those who visited, as well in the skills, confidence and ambition in everyone that has played a part in bringing it to life.
“As we return this November, Lumiere will be a love letter to Durham. A fitting farewell that reminds us of the power of public art to bring people together and imagine different futures.”
On Friday she said she had reached the conclusion earlier this year that Lumiere was no longer viable, “because of decisions that had been made by the council”.
She recalled: “When we started Lumiere in 2009 we brought most of the investment with us. Durham County Council, I think, put in £90,000 of the £650,000 budget. The budget is now £2.5m.
“It’s huge because of the numbers of people who come and the need to keep them safe.
“We had pretty steady commitment from the council and the Arts Council and a whole raft of local businesses and others.
“But I guess we live in a changing economic world and I made a judgement that there was no certainty around the level of investment and commitment required to produce an event of this complexity.”
Lumiere’s memorable first edition, spectacular but marred by inevitable teething problems relating to managing crowds in narrow streets, came in the wake of the banking crisis.
Subsequently it has survived austerity, deftly dodged Covid lockdowns and soldiered on through gales and freezes. With lessons learned during every edition, it became an organisational masterclass.
You could see it as unfortunate that the end has come a few months after Reform UK took control of Durham County Council. As newbies at the helm, they must expect scrutiny.
There was no debate about the Lumiere issue but according to a council spokesman none was required.
Council leader Andrew Husband said the decision for this to be the final edition had been made jointly by the council and Artichoke, with Arts Council England kept informed as a key funder.
“While this is the final event in this format, this is not the end of light art or major events in County Durham,” he said.
“We remain absolutely committed to supporting culture-led regeneration and a key motivation behind this decision is to provide the space for us to engage communities and partners across the county and shape an ambitious and innovative programme of events that is fit for the future.”
Councillor Husband added: “We appreciate the North East Mayor’s offer to join us in looking at how Lumiere or another world-class event for County Durham can be delivered with the support of regional investment.
“As a constituent local authority of NECA, it is entirely appropriate that the Mayor provides constructive support for County Durham and helps us achieve our shared objectives of supporting the visitor economy in the county and region and strengthen the infrastructure here needed to support world class events.”
But North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “I am very disappointed that this has been allowed to happen and that the event team behind Lumiere have been forced to make this announcement.
“Now is not the time to cut one of the region’s most successful events.
“Lumiere has been a phenomenal success story for the North East and I know it holds a special place in the hearts of local people.
“It is a world-class event and I love to see residents from towns and villages across Durham and beyond having a great time at the festival each year.
“It’s a huge shame to see it ending.
“For me, Lumiere always highlights our immense regional pride and I was pleased to provide funding towards the event this year.
“I know thousands of people want this event to continue and I want to see what is possible.
“I can’t make promises but given we weren’t even consulted about future funding opportunities before the event was cut, I hope we can find a way to reverse the council’s decision and keep it going.”
According to Helen Marriage, others have come forward already as alternative Lumiere locations but she said major commitment was required from any host town or city.
“It’s a hugely disruptive event for Durham, for all our stakeholders and residents who have to put up with road closures and huge numbers of people wandering the streets,” she said.
“We don’t underestimate the effort that it takes for a small city to host a big event like this.”
But she said the benefits had been many, both social and economic.
“It’s important for families and we’ve just had a post from somebody saying she and her boyfriend got engaged in front of one of the installations.
“But it’s also significant to the region in terms of income generation and important nationally and internationally.
“Lumiere is known as one of the leading events in the European culture calendar and it’s a shame that Durham is going to give it up.
“It’s really hard to say goodbye to something that you love but I would never choose to do it badly.
“Artichoke’s stock-in-trade is large scale, high production values, a big level of community engagement. It’s big, it’s expensive, it’s fabulous. You don’t want to do something that isn’t fabulous.”
She said Lumiere was very different to the light trails hosted seasonally in enclosed parks.
“Our purpose is to insert art into the daily life of a city, so disruption in a way comes with inviting us to your town.
“We’re not interested in doing something in a sterile area where it doesn’t get noticed or generate attention. The point of Lumiere is that people who would never go to a gallery bump into this stuff and hopefully love it.”
There is, at least, one more chance to see Durham illuminated.
The ninth Lumiere festival will take place from November 13 to 15 in Durham and Shildon with what is billed as “a spectacular programme of international commissions, UK premieres and community projects”.