Oxford's Christmas Light Festival is a free arts festival that takes place in Oxford in November and marks the start of the festive season for the city. 2020 saw the festival expand from the city centre into residential areas across Oxford and the programme was shaped by the limitations imposed by the pandemic. Digital workshops and resources, along with the distribution of micro-grants and free material kits, supported people at home to make and create window displays and lanterns and to connect in their local neighbourhoods through local light trails and through doorstep celebrations in their own streets. Seeing the benefits of this more localised approach in 2020 and the sheer joy of communities making the festival programme content themselves, the festival will be building on the this approach even further in 2021. We will be establishing creative hubs in residential areas that will provide a beacon for connecting local people over the festival weekend - with the create and make participation activity (taking place from October) being the 'glue' that connects people across the city into the festival weekend, enabling them to share what they’ve made and come together at their local hub.

The festival producer will be working with the Festival Leadership group (Oxford Contemporary Music, Arts at the Old Fire Station, Fusion Arts, Oxford City Council, Film Oxford and Tandem Collective), alongside key delivery partners, to ensure the festival programme is delivered and promoted in a joined up and collaborative way to connect with community audiences and participants across Oxford. The festival takes place over the weekend of 19-21 November 2021, and the contract will run from date of signing through to the end of November 2021. The most intensive period of work is likely to be from October until the festival delivery. Whilst this contract is with Oxford City Council it is expected that the role will work most closely with the Festival Leadership Group and other freelance colleagues working on the festival. At Oxford City Council this contract will be managed by the Community Events Officer which is a new post in the process of being recruited to and in the interim, the contract will be managed by Paula Redway, Culture and Community Development Manager.

For more information about the festival visit the website: www.oxlightfest.com