Blyth Shines Bright: A Festival of Energy Ignites Creativity and Innovation
This March, the Northumberland town of Blyth will become a beacon of creativity, science, and sustainability as it hosts its first-ever Festival of Energy
Blyth will be transformed with large-scale art installations, dynamic performances, and immersive experiences designed for all ages. The festival programme blends science, art, and community, celebrating energy in all its forms – natural, human, and technological. At the heart of the festival is a world-first collaboration featuring Luke Jerram’s Museum of the Moon and Gaia. These seven-metre, intricately detailed models of the Moon and Earth, accompanied by evocative soundscapes, will be displayed together for the first time inside the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult’s blade testing hall. Visitors will be treated to a rare opportunity to experience these celestial icons while reflecting on Blyth’s pioneering role in clean energy.
The creative vision extends to the River Blyth, where the life-sized Whale Song projection brings a humpback whale to life through a combination of water, light, and sound. Created by acclaimed designers LCI Productions, this installation transforms the mouth of the river into an unforgettable encounter with nature and technology. Complementing this is Walk the Plank’s Tower of Light, a dazzling finale celebrating Blyth’s maritime heritage and future through fire, sound, and striking lighting effects.
Seven brand-new local creative commissions also feature in the festival, exploring themes of energy, light, and transformation. These works, developed in collaboration with local artists and community groups, showcase Blyth’s talent and imagination while inviting audiences to engage with the town’s evolving identity.
For those curious about the science behind the art, the festival offers behind-the-scenes access to the ORE Catapult, the UK’s leading offshore renewable energy research centre. Families and visitors can enjoy interactive workshops at the Energy Central Learning Hub, where experts reveal the connections between technology, the environment, and human creativity. From hands-on radio broadcasting workshops with Koast Radio to explorations of maritime careers with Blyth’s Harbour Master, there are countless opportunities to learn, experiment, and be inspired.
Community and inclusion are central to the festival. On Sunday 8th March, an International Women’s Day Breakfast beneath Gaia and the Museum of the Moon will honour the women who inspire Blyth and the wider region. Guests are invited to nominate colleagues, volunteers, or community champions to join this intimate celebration, blending recognition, empowerment, and the awe-inspiring backdrop of Jerram’s artworks.
Film enthusiasts and families can also enjoy the drop-in cinema experience The Big Chill at the town’s Market Pavilion, which transports audiences to the polar extremes with breathtaking footage from the British Antarctic Survey. Free films, talks, and workshops throughout Blyth town centre and quayside further make science and sustainability accessible to all.
What sets the Festival of Energy apart is its ability to fuse culture with innovation, bringing artists, scientists, and the local community together to tell Blyth’s story in an entirely new way. The festival is designed not only to entertain but to provoke curiosity, spark conversation, and ignite pride in the town’s identity and achievements. Whether marvelling at Jerram’s creations, witnessing Whale Song on the river, or seeing the quayside illuminated by Tower of Light, the experience promises to leave a lasting impression.
As Blyth pulses with creativity and energy, it is clear the town is looking not only to the future of renewable energy but also to the future of culture, community, and imagination. The Festival of Energy is a fitting celebration of this ambition – highlighting the potential of a town, its people, and its environment, and reminding us that innovation and artistry are most powerful when they converge.
For residents and visitors alike, the festival offers a unique opportunity to witness Blyth’s transformation into a hub of inspiration. Free and family-friendly, with some events requiring advance booking, the festival invites everyone to explore, engage, and be amazed. Whether local or visiting from across the North East or beyond, the Festival of Energy promises a weekend of wonder, learning, and celebration – a true reflection of Blyth’s bright, sustainable future.
Commissioned by Northumberland County Council, programmed and produced the acclaimed outdoor arts company Walk the Plank, the Festival of Energy is the grand finale of the Blyth Celebrates campaign. This initiative forms part of the wider Energising Blyth programme, a bold regeneration project reimagining the town as a hub of creativity, sustainability, and maritime heritage. Funding from the North East Combined Authority, the UK Government, and Northumberland County Council has made this ambitious programme possible, reflecting the region’s commitment to culture and innovation. The festival is presented in partnership with Port of Blyth, the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, Energy Central Campus, and Newcastle University, ensuring a world-class programme grounded in Blyth’s expertise in energy and technology.
