An exciting equinox art festival with themes of light, rebirth and growth is being planned for the area and the community is invited to get involved.

Highlights Rural Touring and Eden District Council are working together to get communities across the district to take part in Covid-secure arts activities and events, on and offline.

Highlighting Eden hopes to find some light within the current darkness, with activities centred around the themes of light, rebirth and growth to fit in with the coming of Spring.

Working with a number of regional artists and makers, it leads up to a Light Up festival around the Spring equinox on March 20. Individuals, businesses and schools are invited to light up 1000 windows, doorsteps or gardens with homemade lanterns.

Over the next two months, Highlights will be hosting online workshops in lantern making, writing, singing and performance and inviting people of all ages and abilities to join in. Artists involved include writer Katie Hale, performer Peter Macqueen, visual artists Karen Babayan and Sula Hancock, Upfront Gallery, Studio Morland and BlueJam Arts.

Additional activities include storytelling and an augmented reality game with Funnelwick Limb’s Atom & Luna and Street, a digital collection of locally collected stories from Imitating the Dog and The Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal and storytelling events with Nick Hennessey.

Eden District Council leader, Councillor Virginia Taylor, speaking on behalf of herself and communities portfolio holder, Councillor Lissie Sharp, said: “Lissie and I want Eden to be a place where the creativity of everyone is valued and given the chance to flourish, and where everyone can access high-quality cultural experiences too. This fabulous project from Highlights is a step along that way.”

Workshops and activities are available at www.highlightsnorth.co.uk.

School or community groups can contact maureen@highlightsnorth.co.uk for more information.