The Willamette Light Brigade’s (WLB) mission is to connect the community and enrich the public realm by harnessing the power of light and art to transform the cityscape. The WLB, established in 1988 with a programmatic goal to light the iconic bridges of Portland as a source of civic pride for the Portland Metro region, has two major programs: the Portland Winter Light Festival (PDXWLF) and the Bridge Lighting Program.
The Bridge Lighting Program is a year-round placemaking activity that puts artful lighting front and center and engages with the iconic bridges of Portland. The program reaches tens of thousands of Portlanders every day with color lighting on the Morrison Bridge. Through the Bridge Lighting Program, the public has the ability to light the Morrison Bridge with colors of their choosing 365 nights a year and encourages the public to participate in visual civic dialogue celebrating and raising awareness of causes and events important to Portlanders. Through this year-round program, the organization advocates for artful lighting and provides guidance and education to groups interested in nighttime placemaking.
The Portland Winter Light Festival is a family-friendly city-wide event that brings residents and visitors out to explore free cutting-edge light-based artwork, interactive sculptures, and performances each February. The festival transforms Portland’s urban landscape into a shining canvas, showcasing the creative vision of hundreds of artists and engaging hundreds of thousands of attendees. The festival celebrates the power of creative expression to invigorate the community and fuel cultural and economic vitality during the winter. Learn more about the impact of the Portland Winter Light Festival.
