Students engaging in the Global Illuminations Procession

Lighting Up Campus: The Global Illuminations Procession 2025

Posted

Friday 7 November

Celebrate sixty years of creativity with the Global Illuminations Procession 2025, a vibrant showcase of light, art and community at the University of Warwick.

This autumn, creativity takes to all corners of campus as Warwick Arts Centre joins the University of Warwick community to celebrate sixty years of innovation, collaboration and culture with the Global Illuminations Procession.

In partnership with Together at Warwick, we’ve been busy preparing a series of creative, free, drop-in workshops open to everyone across campus and the local community. These sessions invite participants to craft, design and make beautiful items to carry and wear during the grand procession. A dazzling celebration of light, movement and global creativity.

As part of the University’s 60th anniversary programme, the Global Illuminations Procession will bring together students, staff and local residents for a night of unity, colour and joy - lighting up the campus with imagination and shared celebration!

Creative Workshops: Making Together

Over a period of four weeks, Warwick Arts Centre has welcomed participants of all ages into our foyer for a series of hands-on creative workshops led by brilliant local artists.

An evening of movement, music and imagination across campus.

From mask-making and printmaking to lantern building and costume creation, each session offers a chance to explore identity, culture and community through art.

Mask Off with Rumbi Savanhu (15 Oct): Participants explored masks as expressions of identity and culture, crafting pieces that reveal the inner self — ready to shine in the procession.
Printmaking with Taiba Akhtar (22 Oct): Using large-scale print techniques, attendees created props to carry through the parade, connecting with Taiba’s passion for printmaking and abstraction.
Glow Up with Rumbi Savanhu (5 Nov): Inspired by Ndebele geometric designs, this workshop will bring warmth and light to the darker evenings through handmade lanterns.
Central and Eastern European Folk Traditions with Tereza Bušková (12 Nov): A vibrant session exploring costume and folk heritage, where participants co-create pieces that will take centre stage in the procession itself.

Each Wednesday afternoon, the Arts Centre buzzes with creative energy — students, families and community members working side by side, discovering new skills and shared stories through making. Find out more about Workshop Wednesdays here.

“It’s been incredible to see our spaces filled with such creativity and collaboration,” says Tara Tighe, Head of Creative Learning at Warwick Arts Centre. “The workshops have become a place where people from across the University and beyond can come together to create, connect, and celebrate our shared community spirit.”

The Day of Celebration

On Wednesday 19 November, the campus will come alive with activity and creativity. From food stalls and exhibitions to artmaking and mindfulness, the day will build towards the spectacular evening procession.

Warwick Arts Centre is proud to support two major workshops on the day:

Central and Eastern European Folk Traditions with Tereza Bušková (1.30 – 4.30pm, Warwick Arts Centre): Continue crafting costumes inspired by folk heritage to carry into the parade.
Reflect & Refract: Wearable Decorations with Taiba Akhtar (1.30 – 4.30pm, Faculty of Arts Agora): Create vibrant props and accessories to wear as the procession lights up the night.

The celebrations will also include:

Go Global Fair (10am – 5pm, Rootes Restaurant) – explore international opportunities, volunteering, and lantern making.
Tea Bowl Punk by Takuro Kuwata (1.30 – 7pm, Mead Gallery) – the first UK solo exhibition by the renowned Japanese ceramicist.
UV Face Painting (1.30 – 4.30pm, Piazza) – add your own glow before the procession begins.
Mindfulness Activity: Contemplating Light (4 – 4.45pm, Chaplaincy Lawn Labyrinth) – a peaceful space to pause and reflect.

Then, at 5pm in the Piazza, the main event begins. Expect vibrant light sculptures, illuminated costumes, and music from around the world as we walk together in a celebration of unity, creativity and community spirit.

Illuminating Our Shared Story

Last year’s inaugural procession saw thousands of participants light up the night in a joyful celebration of global culture. This year promises to be even brighter, with new illuminated creations from student societies, artists and community groups, including giant bears, parrots and moths!

For artist Taiba Akhtar, the opportunity to contribute to this year’s event has meant a lot:

“Through these workshops, collectively we express ourselves experimenting with marks and materials. The sharing inspires creativity, inclusivity and diversity accumulating outcomes for the procession, to be held and worn with pride and joy. Why not join along and play your part?”

Behind the scenes of our Printmaking workshop with Taiba Akhtar

Looking Ahead

At Warwick Arts Centre, collaboration and creativity are at the heart of everything we do. Supporting the Global Illuminations Procession allows us to connect communities through art and offer everyone from students to local residents, a chance to be part of something bigger.

As the lanterns are lit and the music begins, we’ll celebrate not only sixty years of the University of Warwick but also the creativity, warmth and diversity that define our community.

We can’t wait to see the campus glow and to walk together, illuminated, into the next chapter of Warwick’s story.

Our huge thanks to Together at Warwick for supporting our workshops in the lead up to this monumental event.