Create an elegant and charismatic light art installation for this year’s Northern Lights Winter Lights Art Walk at the LBC!

As part of the creative new scheme for our second annual festive lights experience in the outdoor Sculpture Garden, we are thrilled to invite local artists to submit innovative designs to illuminate one of the walking bridges, transforming it into an enchanting tunnel of light.

Last year, more than 25,000 locals and visitors strolled along illuminated walkways, through sensory light tunnels, and past dazzling landscape scenes and sculptures bedecked in colorful lights as part of the inaugural holiday light display.

This contest offers you the chance to leave your mark on our community arts center and captivate thousands of visitors with an imaginative and visually stunning design.

Join us in spreading winter cheer through art and light!

Winner receives a $750 stipend, and their design included in the 2023 Northern Lights installation

Runner Up receives $250

Third Place receives $100

How to submit your proposal

• Read over the Design Guidelines and Overview Packet.
• Using the form below, submit a drawing or visual representation of your design
• You will need to provide an overview of your lighting design, including a description of how to execute your design on the bridge and tunnel, and ideas for materials.
• For children and amateur artists, an illustration of your design idea will be sufficient, but if it wins first place, LBC staff reserves the right to interpret it as needed to install on the bridge.

Bridge Overview

• The Design Challenge is for the East Bridge located in the LBC’s Sculpture Garden
• The East Bridge is furthest away from the LBC’s main entrance, and closest to Sutter

Design Guidelines and Information

Design must

• Be sturdy and safe (for the safety of the piece, and the safety of the public).
• Not interfere with bridge handrails, and entering or exiting the bridge.
• Take power sources into account: power is available through extension cords, and comes up from underneath the bridge, with a maximum of two source points).
• Not exceed the materials budget of $3,000
• Only use plug-in LED lights, with no exceptions.
• Not have anything hanging below the bridge (the culvert fills with water).
• Not be holiday specific and not religious.
• Be family appropriate.
• Be able to withstand 2 months outdoors.

Materials and Installation

• Design can include the ready-made wire tunnel but it doesn’t have to. (The design packet includes dimensions with and without the tunnel.)
• If you choose not to use the ready-made wire tunnel, your design should have a minimum height clearance of 7ft.
• LBC staff will purchase all materials and install and deinstall the final design.
• Design will not be monitored other than periodic walkthroughs by LBC staff.
• Your design may need to be modified during installation, or be adjusted slightly based on installation needs – our commitment is to stay true to the design.
• Design will become the property of the Center.
• Materials purchased for the design will become property of the LBC.

Rules and Fine Print

Deadline extended 1 week – see new timeline below.

• Your lighting design needs to be submitted by 11:59 pm on Sunday, September 24.
• Lighting designs can be submitted as an individual or as a group.
• You can submit more than one lighting design.
• Once the entry window has closed, all entries will go through a juried selection process to determine the top three finalists for the community to decide.
• The winning lighting design, plus 2nd and 3rd place, will be chosen through community voting on social media.
• Winners will be announced on social media at 10:00 am on Friday, October 6.
• Design will then become the property of the Center.
• The winner will receive $750 and their design included in the 2023 Northern Lights installation, 2nd place receives $250, and 3rd place receives $100.