illuminated winter public art festival of lights 2025–2026
The City of Worcester’s Cultural Development Division and the Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District (BID) invite artists and creative teams to submit proposals for the design and fabrication of temporary illuminated public art installations for the 2025–2026 winter season.
Selected installations will be exhibited on the Worcester Common as part of the Festival of Lights, launching on December 5, 2025, and will remain on view through March 1, 2026.
This initiative is supported by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ (NEFA) Making it Public grant, the City of Worcester, and the Downtown Worcester BID. The total program budget is $30,000, which will be distributed across multiple awards ranging from $5,000 to $30,000, based on the scope and scale of selected proposals.
Context & Background
Context & Background The Winter Lighting Program is a key component of Worcester’s creative placemaking strategy, designed to brighten the winter season, foster community engagement, and enhance the vibrancy of the downtown area. The program coincides with the annual Festival of Lights—a beloved holiday celebration featuring performances, attractions, and seasonal festivities.
This call seeks innovative 2D and 3D illuminated artworks that transform the Worcester Common into a festive, inclusive, and visually striking winter destination. The site, located at 455 Main Street behind City Hall, is a central hub for public programming and winter activities such as ice skating.
Artists should consider the site’s logistical and historical constraints, including access to power, ADA accessibility, and respect for protected areas like the historic burial ground. Artists are encouraged to use energy-efficient lighting technologies (LED), motionbased features, low-maintenance and vandal-resistant designs. Supporting materials, including maps, photos, and site dimensions, are provided in Section VII.
Timeiine:
- Fabrication Period: September – November 2025
- Installation Window: November 24 – December 1, 2025
- Public Display: December 5, 2025 – March 1, 2026
- Deinstallation: March 2 – 6, 2026