City gears up for Culture Night

Culture vultures are in for an absolute feast for the senses on Friday (September 19) when Culture Night in Londonderry takes the city by storm.
By Conal Cosgrove
Published 3rd Sep 2014, 12:16 BST
Members from In Your Space NW Circus School, with the Mayor of Londonderry Councillor Brenda Stevenson and Mary Blake, DCC Tourism Development officer, launching the forthcoming Culture Night.Members from In Your Space NW Circus School, with the Mayor of Londonderry Councillor Brenda Stevenson and Mary Blake, DCC Tourism Development officer, launching the forthcoming Culture Night.
Members from In Your Space NW Circus School, with the Mayor of Londonderry Councillor Brenda Stevenson and Mary Blake, DCC Tourism Development officer, launching the forthcoming Culture Night.

For one night only – from 5pm to 11pm – over 50 venues across the city will throw open their doors to invite the public in to explore, experience and enjoy local culture.

Organised annually by Derry City Council, the packed programme includes live music, theatre, dance - and even mini festivals - as cultural venues and performers deliver a magical evening of free entertainment for all the family.

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Mayor of Londonderry, Brenda Stevenson, said she was looking forward to a busy weekend in the city.

“Culture Night is always extremely popular and this year - with our much anticipated MTV Crashes event and CultureTech Festival all taking place over the same weekend - the celebrations will be bigger and better than ever.

“The culture night programme features something to entertain everyone with a diverse mix of events embracing a wide range of genres.

“I would encourage everyone to come along and experience local culture at its very best.”

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Culture night organiser with Derry City Council Mary Blake said: “We are thrilled that over 50 venues and acts from across the city are talking part this year - this promises to be our biggest Culture Night event yet.

“We would like to encourage everyone to get out and about and maybe call into a cultural venue they might not have visited before. This is a really great family friendly night and we are so grateful to all the venues and artists who are taking part this year.”

A wide range of indoor and outdoor interactive events showcasing the city’s diverse cultural talents and unique historical significance have been programmed, including art workshops and exhibitions, cultural traditions, museum visits, dance, film, literature, circus skills and more.

Just a few of the many highlights include a spectacular Chinese Dragon Dance display in Guildhall Square; a 1940s themed Club Cabaret at The Playhouse; CultureTECH Video Dome in the Guildhall; pop-up recording studio in the Nerve Centre; and a Siege Stories Grand Parade on the City Walls.

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Brace yourselves too for a sharp intake of culture at Ireland’s Smallest & Speediest Festival in The Peace Garden at Guildhall Square at 7pm. This family friendly music festival, incorporates a chain of events which any avid festival goers may experience in 12.5 minutes flat!

Meanwhile, RetroTech/FutureTech - the first major event at the brand new NW Regional Science Park at Fort George - is set to be one of the coolest events in town on Friday, September 19. Think Sonic the Hedgehog projected onto the side of a glass building, Van der Graaf Generators, SuperNintendo, Sega Megadrive, Atari, Robots, Quadcopters, Beatboxers and the cream of Irish/NI DJs, producers and musicians.

You simply won’t want to stay at home on Culture Night as there is just so much to see and do.

The full programme is available at http://www.derrycity.gov.uk/culturenight/home