Marketplace Arts secures funding for light festival across West Suffolk
The Brandon mural by Luke McDonnell, 2026. Photo: Amy Fox.
Marketplace Arts, the community‑led light art festival “Light Up the Town”, has been awarded funding from Suffolk County Council Culture Fund and will return to Brandon, Mildenhall and Newmarket in January and February 2027.
The investment marks a significant milestone for the organisation and for the communities it serves, enabling arts experiences to happen in the heart of the West Suffolk towns.
Marketplace Arts will be commissioning a mixture of new and existing light art from professional artists based in the Suffolk and beyond.
Community panels taking place in each town will bring together 45 local residents to shape the events that will take place in 2027.
Over the past two years, “Light Up the Town” has grown into an annual highlight attended by nearly 3,000 people.
In 2025, the light shows toured across seven towns, where historic buildings were transformed with projection artworks co‑created by local residents.
“Light Up the Town” will celebrate local creativity through large‑scale illuminated artworks, participatory workshops, and a programme of events designed to bring people in West Suffolk together in accessible ways.
The project will work closely with residents,community groups and local businesses to co‑create installations that reflect the stories, heritage and identity of the area.
Happening in January and February 2027, the event uses these transitional months to focus on climate adaptation and the local environment, at a time when the landscape is dormant.
Rob Drummer, the CEO & creative director for Marketplace Arts, said: “The support from the Suffolk Culture Fund for ‘Light Up The Town’ is a real endorsement of the value of high quality community co-creation at a time when we need an abundance of joy and inclusive arts activity.
“For 11 years MarketPlace Arts has been championing the extraordinary communities of West Suffolk and Fenland and supports thousands of people each year to access diverse, imaginative creative opportunities.
“We cannot wait to get back to Brandon, Mildenhall and Newmarket over the next year for ‘Light Up The Town’.”