Eindhoven, May 23, 2024 – At the Kazerne in Eindhoven, GLOW’s partners and friends received a first impression of the new route for GLOW 2024. With the theme ‘The Stream,’ this international light art festival will start on November 9 this year. Ronald Ramakers, director of GLOW, presented several innovations for GLOW 2024, including the mobile studio of Studio040 on the Markt, from which live reports will be made daily during GLOW. Among the attendees was Stijn Steenbakkers (Alderman of Brainport, economy, education, KnoopXL, and Eindhoven-Northwest), who emphasized the economic and social importance of GLOW for the Brainport region.

In 2023, GLOW conducted research on its social impact on visitors. Attendees rated the event with an average score of 8, up from 7.6 in 2022. Of the visitors who indicated they visit GLOW more than three times, 58% feel that GLOW connects them more with the region. Additionally, 60% said they feel more connected to Eindhoven because of GLOW. Ronald Ramakers stated, “Both in preparation and during the light art festival, we bring together companies, organizations, students, and artists in our GLOW Labs. Together, they translate the stories from the city and region into innovative light artworks. We are unique in this regard; no other festival in the world connects groups of people so early in the preparation phase. Therefore, GLOW receives requests from cities worldwide to observe how Eindhoven achieves this. It’s fantastic to see that research now shows that GLOW not only translates into a financial contribution for the city and region but also has an enormous social impact. Light brings people together at the heart.”

The route of GLOW 2024

Ramakers took the guests on a digital tour along the preliminary route, highlighting several special locations. This year’s route starts at the Markt, heads towards the Bergen and Wilhelminaplein, moves to Ventoselaan and Victoria Park, and then proceeds towards 18 Septemberplein through the Piazza to Fellenoord. From there, it goes towards the TU campus, passing through the Silly Walk tunnel to the Effenaar, turns onto Dommelstraat, and finally returns to the Markt via Raiffeisenstraat and the Heuvel. The route is approximately 5 km, similar in length to 2023. One of the highlights of the upcoming edition is the children’s project at the Rabobank office on Fellenoord. Additionally, GLOW will also take place in the surrounding region this year. Which neighboring municipalities will participate will be announced later.

Unique collaboration

In the context of Eindhoven’s 80th liberation anniversary, there will be a unique collaboration between GLOW and the Lichtjesroute on Willemstraat. A very special and exuberant work by French artist Cindy Lo will also be displayed at Wilhelminaplein. Lo, who was previously featured at GLOW in 2022 with her colorful projection on Villa Dommelhoef, will create a poetic light artwork for 2024 based on a poem by K. Michel, which is about the emergence of new landscapes amidst chaos.

Daily live broadcasts from GLOW

After presenting the route and highlights, Mike Weerts introduced a new initiative for GLOW 2024. In collaboration with Studio040, there will be daily live broadcasts from a mobile studio on the Markt, featuring interviews with visitors, artists, and special guests. Mike Weerts, director and executive of Studio040, explained: “Last year, we filmed several portraits of Eindhoven residents visiting GLOW for the first time. It was very well received. Together with GLOW, we pursue the same goal: recording stories from the city to connect people. With this idea, we can share all these stories with people on the route and throughout the region.”

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GLOW is made possible by its partners:
Signify, Gemeente Eindhoven, ASML, BIZ, Brainport Eindhoven, DAF Trucks N.V., DELA, Eindhoven 52, Eindhoven Airport, Heuvel Eindhoven, Pronorm, Pullman, Sahara Benelux, and Christie.

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