Light Up Winter with Appetite in 2026!

This winter we are bringing light to the darker months with three special, FREE events as part of our ✨ Light Up Winter ✨ series, which includes Light Up Middleport (21 & 22 Jan), Light Up Hanley (3 & 4 Feb) and Newcastle Under Light (4 March – event page coming soon).

Featuring immersive artworks, projections and interactive installations, the ✨Light Up Winter✨ series will transform familiar spaces into glowing, playful places to explore after dark.

Each of the three events in the series will feature different artists and artworks, and a special vibe that reflects the community where it happens. We would love to see you at all three!

See your community in a fresh light

Light Up Middleport

21 & 22 January, 4pm-8pm. Beautiful, interactive art installations by the Bowling Green. Click through to find two opportunities for you to be part of the art!

Go to Light Up Middleport

Light Up Hanley

3 & 4 February, 5pm-8pm. Featuring a light projection onto the Town Hall created with young people, a giant fortune-telling fruit machine, and illuminated chimes.

Go to Light Up Hanley

Newcastle Under Light

4 March, 6pm-9pm. Experience Newcastle town centre in a cosy glow of calm.

Page coming soon

BSL at Light Up Winter

BSL Tours

Tours of the events with a British Sign Language interpreter are available at the each of the Light Up Winter events on the following days:

Light Up Middleport Wednesday 21 January

Light Up Hanley Wednesday 4 February

Newcastle Under Light Wednesday 4 March

To book onto a tour, email us at askus@appetite.org.uk

Be part of the art in Middleport

Would you like your heartbeat to be one of 30 featured in The Matter of The Heart?

Those selected to take part will be invited to a 15-minute session on either 17 or 19 January, between 10am and 4pm, at Middleport Matters’ Harper Street base. Participants will be given a heart monitor to wear, download an app to transmit their heartbeat, and share a few words about what Stoke-on-Trent means to them.

For your chance to be chosen, apply via the idontloveyouanymore website.

The Appetite programme and Light Up Winter series of events is funded by National Lottery through Arts Council England’s Creative People and Places programme. With additional event funding from UK Government, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, Denise Coates Foundation, and Middleport Matters. Light Up Winter is delivered in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID, Newcastle-under-Lyme BID, and Stoke Creates.