PLANS for this year’s Illuminating York festival are well under way, and up-and- coming artists have revealed their plans for the event.

The festival runs from Wednesday, October 29, to Saturday, November 1, and City of York Councillor Sonja Crisp, cabinet member for leisure, culture and tourism and Stuart Page from York St John University have met artists Ritchard Allaway and Luc Jones to look at some of their work before they create their final piece for SPARK as part of Illuminating York 2014.

The SPARK scheme, run by the council and the university, supports new and emerging artists, and has created five new artworks for the festival.

Coun Crisp said: “One of the great aspects of Illuminating York is that as well as established, world-renowned artists, we are able to give the tens of thousands of visitors to the festival the chance to see new and exciting work from world-renowned artists of the future. Working in partnership with the University of York St John allows us to do this in a positive way that benefits both the artists and visitors alike.”

Stuart Page said: “SPARK is an amazing opportunity for emerging artists. Not only do they get given a budget with which to create new work, but they are also guided through a process, which will give them valuable experience as they move through the art world. The SPARK process mirrors that of the major commissions and allows young artists to show their work to a large and diverse audience.”

Tickets for the festival, which is also supported by Arts Council England, Visit York, York St John University, English Heritage, York Archaeological Trust, the Merchant Adventurers Hall, York Theatre Royal and QED Productions, are available now from illuminatingyork.org or by phoning York Theatre Royal box office on 01904 623568.