Letter from The Executive Director

Celebrating a Year of Milestones and Growth

In 2024-2025, the Willamette Light Brigade (WLB) celebrated major milestones and marked the beginning of a new chapter, evolving into a visionary organization that has longevity, civic impact, and illuminates the crucial role art and levity play in our community. Portland is facing an existential crisis centered on what the city wants to be in the future, and the WLB has emerged as a leader in creating a vision that harnesses the public’s passion for art and creativity, turning it into positive experiences, economic vibrancy, and genuine community connections.

The Portland Winter Light Festival’s 10th Anniversary celebration was a resounding success with a record number of artists, installations, participating businesses, and volunteers. There was art in nearly every corner of downtown; the streets were filled with smiling families — despite snowflakes in the forecast both weekends — and positive memories were being created in real time. Once again, the Light Festival demonstrates that art is a powerful force. That our community will come out in droves for authentic and meaningful experiences of dynamic tech-based art. In doing so, they will visit local businesses, eat at food carts, and explore downtown transformed by art. The 10th anniversary event was punctuated by a giant, fire-breathing dragon at the Waterfront, and we vow to continue to bring that fierce, ambitious energy into everything we do next year. 

To that end, we began our most ambitious effort to date, Illuminate Bridge City. This initiative will bring light-based placemaking to the waterfront all year round, transforming our city skyline by illuminating Portland’s iconic bridges in vibrant color. Illuminate Bridge City began in earnest in 2025 through the support of crucial partners.

This marks the beginning as the WLB embarks on the first phase of Illuminate Bridge City, creating a master plan and roadmap for lighting multiple bridges. This multi-year vision for Portland will amplify, enhance, and enliven activities along both sides of the Willamette River. It will play a role in shaping the Portland of the future —the one where the waterfront is a vibrant, world-class evening destination and smiling people fill the streets. The Willamette Light Brigade is ready to begin this new chapter and meet this moment.  

Sincerely,

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  Executive Director Alisha Sullivan with Nautilus by Sparks Designs at Ankeny Alley; photo by Alicia J. Rose

Alisha Sullivan,
Executive Director- Willamette Light Brigade and Portland Winter Light Festival