Light Night Festival in Leeds 10th Anniversary
Wednesday, 1st October 2014
WANDER IN WONDER: 10th Annual Festival Lights Up the Night in Leeds 3rd October
Bright and barmy, squishy and squashy, fun and fabulous, always diverse and often downright off the wall, Light Night is a great opportunity to see the city of Leeds as you’ve never seen it before. Wonder as you wander around a city that provides an evening to enlighten with a myriad of free arts events for everyone to enjoy.
Last year, more than 30,000 people joined in the festival fun with Light Night in Leeds. 2014 sees Light Night’s 10th anniversary and a major line up of over 50 opportunities to immerse yourself in this extraordinary phenomenon that is Art in the Dark: follow us @LightNightLeeds via #artinthedark and at facebook.com/lightnightleeds and get social!
Spearheaded by Leeds City Council, and a stand out date in the national arts and events calendar, this amazing evening is open to all. Marvel at the Civic Hall transformed into a Theatre of Illumination - a digital spectacle of light and sound which will propel the building into the next century with the explosive energy of a firework display. Commissioned by Leeds Inspired, and created by Leeds based Omni Pictures, optical illusions and projection mapping will combine to create an ultramodern white light show with surround-sound.
Light Night is an explosion of activities, sights and events to amaze, starting from 5pm. Many of the city centre’s museums, galleries, universities, shopping centres, theatres and open spaces will open their doors for Light Night, each with different forms of entertainment on offer as the city is split into eight zones – Millennium Square, Town Hall, Quarry Hill, Victoria Gardens, Headrow, Briggate, Arena and the University zone.
Thanks to funding from Arts Council England, Light Night is proud to be supporting and showcasing work by new and emerging artists through the SHINE programme. Work includes Nick Kidd’s Squishy Sculpture Park, a fun take on British Modernist sculpture created from entirely from fabric and Anna Politiko’s Ghost Tram, which brings a horse drawn tram back to Briggate and populates it with passengers from a bygone age.
Favourites such as Emett Machines return to the Merrion Centre and Opera North’s performance of a beautiful love song from Monteverdi’s The Coronation of Poppea adds another dimension to the evening’s events.
“Our 10th Light Night festival is an amazing opportunity to showcase the wide range of arts and culture on offer in Leeds, and a great way for local people and visitors to experience the city in a different and exciting way.” Abbe Robinson, Light Night Producer / Programmer
"We're really proud that Light Night 2014 has the most exciting line-up of installations and events ever, from spectacular large-scale projections to quirky small-scale performances. The emphasis this year on Leeds' emerging young talents has given Light Night renewed energy and imagination.” Steve Manthorp, Light Night Programmer
“Light Night Leeds is always a great night out, with many the city’s buildings and outdoor spaces coming to life in new and surprising ways. With our special emphasis on family friendly installations and events, this is a great year for people of all ages to get involved and experience a fantastic festival atmosphere." Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Leeds City Council executive board member with responsibility for digital and creative technologies, culture and skills.
Keep up to date with all the confirmed artists for Light Night at www.lightnightleeds.co.uk and follow the team @LightNightLeeds via #artinthedark and at facebook.com/lightnightleeds
Light Night Leeds is organised by Leeds City Council’s arts development team in partnership with organisations and individual across the city, and is supported by Arts Council England Grants for the Arts.
ENDS
For further information contact Cat Lindley, Leeds City Council communications team
Catherine.Lindley@leeds.gov.uk Tel: 0113 247 4450
For PR opportunities including attendance at the press preview, other photo opportunities and interviews with organisers and artists, please contact Kendra Grahame-Clarke at Kendra PR 07910 214474 e. Kendra@kendrapr.co.uk
Your Light Night Press Pack with images, pdf guide and details is available at the https://www.dropbox.com/sh/b0nqzjivpl1znkq/AAAab3LsI_yb_ptU9-CSss3Ga?dl=0