Delivering Illuminated River involved an extraordinary collaboration across a city without a single governing authority.

The project is led by the Illuminated River Foundation and was largely funded by private philanthropists with the backing of the Mayor of London. The project’s funders include Arcadia – a charitable fund of Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin - the Blavatnik Family Foundation, the Reuben Foundation (which funded the illumination of Westminster Bridge) and the Rothschild Foundation.

Illuminated River required the collaboration of London’s creative talent with statutory bodies and local communities. Illuminated River has been developed in consultation and collaboration with over 50 organisations including 7 local authorities (City of London, Tower Hamlets, Westminster, Southwark, RBKC, Lambeth, Wandsworth) from whom 30 planning permissions and 18 listed building consents have been granted; 5 bridge owners and a wide range of partners including Network Rail, Transport for London, the Port of London Authority, Historic England, London Wildlife Trust, Zoological Society of London and Cross River Partnership.

Illuminated River aims to be a model of best practice and collaboration, demonstrating how different sectors and boroughs can work together to support cultural initiatives that make the city more attractive and accessible for everyone.