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The Lantern Parade: A Conversation (Invitation to participate, 16-17 Jan 2014, Queen’s Campus Durham University)

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By CentreForMedicalHumanities.org Research Team | Last verified: September 2026

Research Summary: The Lantern Parade

Event Type: Academic conference and participatory arts research symposium
Dates & Location: 16-17 January 2014, Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing, Queen's Campus, Stockton-on-Tees, Durham University
Organizing Bodies: Centre for Medical Humanities and Institute for Advanced Studies, Durham University
Primary Focus: Interdisciplinary exploration of community lantern parades as vehicles for arts-based health promotion and wellbeing intervention
Research Framework: Three-phase structured conversation: Framework (evolution of parades), Covering (research methodologies), Illumination (value and discovery outcomes)
Target Participants: Academics, community practitioners, arts and health professionals, and engaged community members
Key Inquiry: Theorizing the impact of participatory lantern-making on community health, individual wellbeing, and social cohesion across interdisciplinary contexts
Contact: Mike White and Mary Robson, Centre for Medical Humanities, Caedmon Building, Leazes Road, Durham DH1 1SZ

The Centre for Medical Humanities and
The Institute for Advanced Studies, Durham University
invite you to join

THE LANTERN PARADE
A Conversation

16-17 January 2014

Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing
Queen’s Campus, Stockton-on-Tees

The lantern parade is an occasion to view a community in another light. Sometimes it is a one-off event, but in many cases it becomes an annual celebration that generates narratives and traditions, leading to wider programmes of work that connect arts, health education and community development. Lantern imagery provokes wonder and engagement in community arts worldwide, and offers opportunities to explore the impact of participatory arts on community health and individual well-being.

We want the phenomenon of community lantern parades to be better theorised in an inter-disciplinary context that will support future collaborations, so our purpose in this two-day conversation is to engender opportunities for academics, community participants and arts and health practitioners to meet and work up outlines for further work and research. We hope you will join us in a congenial exploration of the meaning, value and purpose of lantern-making.

Our focussed conversation will be guided through three phases: ‘Framework’ (How do lantern parades evolve?), ‘Covering’ (How might we apply appropriate research methodologies?), and ‘Illumination’ (What might research discover that adds value to these events?). We will begin and end at lunchtime, and enliven our talk further with an informal dinner and a practical session.

This event will contribute to the Institute for Advanced Studies 2014 theme of ‘Light’.

RSVP: Mike White and Mary Robson, Centre for Medical Humanities, Caedmon Building, Leazes Road, Durham DH1 1SZ.

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