Freelance Programme Lead

Light Up The North (LUTN) is a strategic network which supports the development of the light art sector. As a network of light festivals, we work together to share our collective expertise and to learn together. We support artists, commission new artworks, and carry out research.

We wish to appoint a Programme Lead to support us to deliver an exciting programme of activities across the next two years, consolidating the extremely successful period of growth in our membership and partnership working.

Contract dates: July 2026 – January 2028 inclusive

Fee: £250 per day; total fee available (across contract duration) £12,000

Working pattern: 48 days over 19 months; Average 2.5 days per month, flexible + remote

Budget of up to £1,200 (across 19months) to cover travel and subsistence whilst on LUTN business.

Person Specification

The right candidate will:

• Be highly organised and focussed on key tasks.
• Be a good communicator and advocate able to work with people and organisations, developing partnerships, at a strategic level.
• Be a self-starter capable of working independently.
• Have experience of managing successful projects with multiple stakeholders and timelines.
• Have experience of working on ACE-funded projects, and reporting to ACE.
• Be experienced in evaluation.
• Be able to analyse data and write compelling reports.

You may also have:

• Experience of reporting to a non-executive board.
• Experience of working on the development of light festivals and commissioning artists to create new work for diverse outdoor locations.
• Experience of writing and delivering strategic plans and/or funding bids.
• Experience of delivering conferences.

FEE: £12,000 total excluding VAT

The fee is based on £250 per day, and an average of 2.5 days per month, although it is expected that the workload will be weighted to certain months in the year.

The fee is payable monthly on a retrospective basis.

You would be formally contracted by Blackpool Council and will require a UTR to receive payment through invoices and to meet the Council’s due diligence contracting procedures.

There is an additional expenses allowance of £1,200 throughout the contract term.

To Apply

Please submit your CV with a short supporting statement (no longer than 2 pages) describing your suitability and interest in the role. Please outline how your skills and experience fit the Key Tasks.

Submit by email to admin@lightupthenorth.com

Deadline: midnight 7 June 2026

Shortlisted applicants will be notified by 11 June 2026.

Interviews will be held on w/c 15 June 2026

As well as your application, please consider completing our Equality & Diversity Monitoring Form. This helps us to understand whether we are successfully reaching a diverse range of applicants. The monitoring form is entirely anonymous and not connected to your application.

Contact information

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please email

chair@lightupthenorth.com