The Global Illuminations Procession
Global Illuminations: Procession 2025
We’re thrilled to kick off preparations for the Global Illuminations Procession 2025!
In November 2024 hundreds of you joined us for a short procession through campus with lanterns and light props, we had dance performances and rainbow lazers lighting up the way and culminated in the Piazza for a toe tapping sing-a-long performance from Warwick Brass Soc (reach for the stars!) This November, join us as we walk together to celebrate our global campus and mark Warwick’s 60th Anniversary.
This year’s event will be bigger and better, and we want you to be part of the magic—both on the day and in the lead-up through exciting prop and lantern-making workshops!
Create Your Own Large Props to celebrate your culture!
Want to showcase your group in a big way?
Feedback from last year's procession showed that you want to see a wider range of cultures represented to really encompass that global feeling - and we agree!
That's why we’re offering a limited number of spaces for student groups, societies, and cohorts to work with professional artists and our team to design bespoke large props for the procession.
Talk to us, if you have a idea, or just like the sound of representing your culture at this celebration!
We’ll be in touch with more details!
Drop in to a Workshop and Get Involved
Collaborative Body Sculptures with Natalie Zervou-Kerruish
Wednesday 30th April, 1.30-4pm, Warwick Arts Centre Foyer
Explore the potential of body sculptures and create collaborative costume pieces for the Procession. Using malleable materials, you'll form experimental shapes to wear and attach to others, before lighting them up. A fun, creative, and joyful experience for all.
Boundless Banner Making With Rumbi Savanhu
Saturday 17th May (2pm-5pm), Oculus Ground Floor
Join the African & Caribbean Society (ACS) and black untitled in this collaborative workshop, where artist Rumbi Savanhu will guide you in creating a vibrant illuminated banner that celebrates expansive Black culture. Use fabric and stitching to explore and represent identity, open to all.
Part of a wider event, The Conference of Creativity, exploring and celebration black creativity organised by ACS and black untitled.
Mascot Making with Tat Vision
Wednesday 14th May, 1.30-4pm, Warwick Arts Centre, Foyer
Part of Workshop Wednesdays, Join artist Tat Vision for a hands-on workshop where you'll design and create your own mascot for the Global Illuminations Procession in November 2025 and contribute towards a larger scale collective piece. Using cardboard, fabric, and other materials, you’ll craft unique creatures and bring them to life by gluing fabric to shape eye-catching animal masks. Get creative and be part of this vibrant parade!
Recycled Wings: Moths for the Procession.
Monday 19th (2pm- 4:30pm) & Tuesday 20th May (10am-12:30pm), Faculty of Arts Building, Agora.
Join Artist Frances Yeung to celebrate sustainability get creative, and be part of a stunning display this November!
Create illuminated wearable moth lanterns from recycled materials, inspired by British wildlife, for Warwick’s 60th Anniversary Global Illuminations Procession.
We've teamed up with Warwick at Night, Wild Warwick and Theatre and Performance Studies to work towards a flutter of moths to celebrate British wildlife and Warwick's commitment to sustainability in the procession.
Interested volunteering to be a moth in the procession? Email TogetheratWarwick@Warwick.ac.uk
Light It Up: Tiger & Lotus Prop-Making
Wednesday 30th April (1pm-5pm)
The Junction
Join artist Benny Semp to help create striking, large-scale props for the Global Light Procession celebrations for the 60th Anniversary in November 2025. In this fun and collaborative workshop, you’ll contribute to a bold tiger head structure inspired by the WIF logo, decorating it with vibrant colours and patterns. You’ll also get the chance to build a glowing lotus lantern using repeated petal shapes - perfect for group creativity on the day. Come along, get hands-on, and be part of something spectacular!
This is a free workshop open to all.
The journey so far...
So far we've worked with artist Frances Yeung to explore origami techniques and contribute to a giant origami snake in honour of the Chinese Year of the Snake. We've also worked with the Latin American and Portuguese Speaking Societies to create a giant macaw in honour or Carnaval - and yes his wings do flap! We have more workshops coming up in Term 3, so check back for updates.
The Making of the Macaw
The Latin American and Portuguese Speaking Societies were keen to organise an event to celebrate Carnaval, and we also collaborated with them to create this incredible macaw as part of the festivities.
The bird structure itself was created by local artist Benny Semp following a conversation with the societies. Benny then brought the plain bird along with all the materials to decorate it and the students took care of the rest.
"Making the macaw was such a rewarding experience. It wasn’t just about crafting a prop, it was about really getting into the heart of Carnaval. Despite the weather, the energy was amazing. The music, the vibrant colours, and the passion everyone brought made it feel like we were all part of something truly special. At its core, Carnaval is all about celebrating culture and coming together through creativity, and that’s exactly what we did."
- Milagros Garcia Marroquin
"The experience of making the Macaw was fantastic! It was exciting to work on something so big and being given creative freedom to add whatever designs we liked. It was also quite therapeutic working at our own pace with others just to make something look beautiful. It’s definitely opened my mind to do more crafts workshops "
- André Childs Dos Santos
Got questions?
We've included some FAQs here, but if you have any further questions, or you'd like to arrange a chat, you can always email warwickpresents@warwick.ac.uk
We'd love to make a really cool prop but we are NOT crafty! What skill level is required?
You do not need any craft experience to make a prop! Our team will commission a local artist to help you, and the level of support provided can vary based on your skill level. If you've got an idea for a prop that would celebrate your culture and want to get involved, we'd love to work with you.
What sort of props can we make?
Absolutely anything! The beautiful thing about these props being custom made is that they can take whatever shape you like - whatever shape you feel would represent your cultural identity.
How much will it cost our group or society to make a prop?
Absolutely nothing, the project is fully funded, so we'll cover the artist's fee and cost of materials.
How long will it take to make the prop?
The exact time will depend on what you want to make, but we have budget for up to a full day's workshop per prop - this can be one full day or you can split up into one or two half day workshops.
When would these workshops take place?
We'll work around your availability, but ideally some time in Term 3 or early in Term 1. The procession will be in November 2025.
Where would we keep the prop? I need to move out over the summer.
Our team have storage space campus and we'll look after the prop for you and keep it safe until the Light Procession in November 2025.
Will we get to keep what we make?
We'll look after your prop until the procession in November 2025, but after that you're free to do whatever you like with it, maybe it will be the guest of honour at a house party, maybe your Fresher's will parade it through campus at the end of term, maybe you can try and take it out to POP?
Do we need to be an official SU-affiliated society to take part?
No, we welcome enquiries from all student groups.
I'm graduating this year so won't be able to take part in the procession, can I still make a prop?
Yes you can. We'd love it if you can put us in touch with other students from your culture who would be able to walk the prop during the procession, but we can put a call out closer to the time if that's not possible.
Can we incorporate a prop making workshop into an event we're already planning?
Yes! This worked really well at the Carnaval event, as the societies were already coming together to celebrate and we worked with them to add another activity to the event.