The Policy Research Group’s evaluation of the 2015 Lumiere has been influential in garnering support from Durham County Council for the staging of a fifth Lumiere event in 2016. The report, by Gordon Allinson, Paul Braidford and Maxime Houston,  which was received by the County Council earlier this year shows that the event generated almost a £10m boost to the regional economy. Furthermore, as the Leader of Durham County Council, Councillor Simon Henig, stated – “More than 90 per cent of those surveyed rated Lumiere 2015 as ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ and it said it ‘made them happy with 80 per cent of visitors saying they planned to come back.”  It is hoped that the Cabinet will approve investment of £100,000 in a future Lumiere on the basis of the benefits identified in the report.  See the full story online in the Northern Echo, 8th June, 2016: click here.