International Light Festivals Organisation »

ILO » Urban Tales in Light and Shadow

The International Light Festivals Organisation (ILO) is a global alliance of light festivals, artists and experts dedicated to illuminating public spaces with creativity, innovation and impact. Uniting visionaries from across cultures, ILO fosters collaboration and exchange at the vibrant crossroads of art, design, technology and urban life.

ILO strengthens global network »

By connecting members from around the world, ILO encourages the sharing of knowledge, new trends, and best practices that help advance light art and festival production.

Radiance for City and Soul »

Championing light as a language of storytelling, ILO transforms cities into canvases where imagination thrives and communities connect beneath shared skies. Its members explore new frontiers in artistic expression, sustainability and social engagement — promoting energy-efficient practices, responsible materials and low-carbon travel through the ILO Sustainability Manifesto.

Where light tells stories »

Rooted in ethical collaboration and forward-thinking creativity, ILO inspires festivals to shine not only with visual splendour but with meaning. By embracing both light and darkness, it nurtures dialogue, inclusivity and wonder — strengthening the cultural, social and environmental impact of light art worldwide.

Meet the Board, See the Vision – ILO AGM Highlights »

The ILO Annual General Meeting took place on 24 October during the Klanglicht light festival in Graz, Austria. 40 participants representing 24 festivals from 17 countries joined the meeting in person and online. The AGM has become a lively gathering for the International Light Organization community, bringing together festival creators and curators to share ideas, exchange insights, and spark new collaborations. The meeting confirmed ILO’s role as a shared source of inspiration, innovation, and support within the international light-festival community.

ILO Artist Data Base »

ILO has developed a platform that allows light artists to share their work with festival members. Through this curated Artist Platform, artists gain direct visibility within an international network of light festivals, fostering meaningful collaborations. Each year, the submitted artworks are shared with festival directors, connecting artists with curators worldwide. Supported by ILO’s global team, artists receive international exposure and new opportunities to grow their practice. For creatives seeking an active, inspiring community, the ILO Artist Database opens the door to global collaboration and innovation.

ILO Artist Award 2025

Katja Heitmann – PERPETUUM

The jury of leading festival directors and curators reviews the nominated artworks and selects one each year for the prestigious ILO Artist Award, celebrating excellence and innovation in light art.

The ILO Artist Award 2025 goes to Katja Heitmann for PERPETUUM, a video installation exploring movement, time, and memory. Heitmann preserves the personal gestures of over 2,000 individuals, transforming them into a choreographed light installation. Visitors encounter these “Movement Donors” on a monumental scale, witnessing their movements and hearing the stories behind them. The work moves between performance art, minimalism, and conceptual practice, reflecting on the transience of the body and the human desire for continuity. PERPETUUM renders visible how individual acts become collective experience, turning light into a medium that preserves movement as poetic memory.

———————————————————————————

Photos and credits:

Termin: ILO AGM 2025 on 24th October

Adresse: Graz _ AT

Link →