THE region's largest electricity distribution network operator has announced a brand-new partnership.

Northern Powergrid has teamed up with Leeds City Council and is sponsoring the Millennium Square zone during the upcoming Light Night Leeds.

The sponsorship expands across the entire Millennium Square zone, including the iconic Leeds Civic Hall, which is set to feature an extravagant projection named Out of the Aire.

Projected at monumental scale onto Leeds Civic Hall, Out of the Aire returns from its 2017 presentation at Light Night with updated content. It celebrates Leeds as a centre of innovation, engineering, sports and the arts. Drawing inspiration from the people who have made the city famous around the world, it includes testing rocket powered torpedoes in Waterloo Lake, the world’s first motion picture and the many sporting achievements. The soundtrack features Leeds singers and bands.

Natasha Howes, Principal Curator and Producer for Light Night Leeds said: “We are delighted that Northern Powergrid has come on board as a sponsor for Light Night Leeds 2024.

“They have generously supported the Millennium Square Zone which features one of the major artworks of this year’s festival, Out of the Aire which tells the story of innovation in Leeds projected at monumental scale onto the Civic Hall.

“The zone, at the heart of the city centre, also includes artworks in Leeds Art Gallery and Leeds City Museum as well as outdoor pieces of a giant inflatable patterned fox and a performance by Day of the Dead skeletons. The illumination for Light Night Leeds couldn’t exist without the power that Northern Powergrid supply, which makes us natural and like-minded partners.”

The event comes as Northern Powergrid, prepare their customers to be “winter ready”.

Louise Lowes, Director of Customer Service said: “Light Night Leeds is a fantastic event in our region. We’re so excited to get involved and sponsor the incredible illuminations in Millennium Square, where we recently completed work to upgrade our network.

“Being part of a wonderful event like Light Night Leeds means we can connect with our customers on a personal level and offer them support and advice as we approach winter.

"The two-day event will see our teams out and about chatting to customers enjoying the light festival, and our customer service vehicle will be on site, where we can sign customers up to our Priority Services Membership to receive additional support in the event of a power cut. We are proud to be able support this wonderful local event in our region."

Light Night Leeds is the UK’s largest annual arts and light festival and will return on Thursday 24 and Friday 25 October 2024, 6pm-10pm. Find out more on lightnightleeds.co.uk