SO what's Bjork got to do with it? Nothing, as it happens. But back in 2001, the Icelandic singer called one of her albums Vespertine. Now that same word is being used to boost the early evening economy in York.

A far-sighted partnership in the city has won a £100,000 grant from Art England to fund musical performances, light projections and art installations.

These will come to life as the shops are closing, and should hopefully fill the dull gap between the end of the afternoon and the beginning of the evening proper.

This new initiative saw York Archaeological Trust lead a consortium of parters from city attractions, cultural leaders and City of York Council to bid for the grant.

The hope is that Vespertine will bring the city back to life at what can be a dead time of the day and provide an incentive for people to stay around. As the annual Illuminating York festival shows so well, lighting up the city can do much to brighten our lives and draw in visitors.

In recent years, York has thrived when everyone has pulled together, as witnessed by the 2012 York Mystery Plays. Another great event was the Pilot Theatre-driven Blood + Chocolate, which brought theatre to the streets of York in a boldly imaginative manner.

Quality events attract visitors to York and make the city centre more vibrant and interesting. So it is to be hoped that Vespertine lives up to its exciting promise. The first event comes next month, with an interactive sound and light sculpture. With luck this will be the start of something.