A public appeal was held last year to raise money to install the lighting system (link opens in new tab). Edmonton Arts Council is now seeking teams of professional artists or lighting designers to program lighting performances or displays for the bridge.

The idea is that the chosen team will create lighting performances to mark holidays such as New Year’s Eve and Thanksgiving or events such as the longest night of the year and the summer solstice.

The lighting system’s colour capabilities are already used, for instance to turn the bridge blue and orange when the local ice hockey team is playing at home. Requests to change the lighting colours are considered on a case-by-case basis, for instance to support an event of national or international significance or an issue such as World Aids Day.