Thousands are expected to flock to a free evening of cultural events in Liverpool on Friday, May 15 as LightNight is set to return to they city’s streets for an evening of cultural celebration.
The LightNight one-night arts festival has now been running for 6 years and this time round will take place on Friday, May 15. This date also marks the official launch of the One Magnificent City programme of events, set to mark the 175th anniversary of The Cunard.
The theme for this year is ‘Looking to the New World’ and with this, more than 100 organisations are joining forces to offer special free events for all ages. These range from mass dance workshops, exhibitions and walking tours, to light installations, science demos, dress up photo booths and concerts.
Also included in the list of events for 2015 is the opening of LOOK/15: Exchange, the biennial Liverpool International Photography Festival, with special exhibition previews and parties on LightNight including the Anna Fox party at Tate Liverpool and an after show at Constellations.
LJMU Rodney House on Mount Pleasant will this year be home to a new festival hub, where audiences can go along to pick up the programme, learn more about the events and buy tote bags and badges to support the festival.
Major venues including Tate Liverpool, Liverpool Cathedral and St George’s Hall will be opening alongside a number of independent galleries and spaces, including one-off open studios at 104 Duke Street, Fünf Studio and Road Studios.
Further city venues showcasing events include Liverpool Small Cinema, which will be open with screenings of short films (60 seconds or less) to show off the new space. The Well – a new non-profit creative community space – will also be open with a hands-on interactive light projection working with Between the Borders.
In celebration of its own 175th anniversary year, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall will be open for the very first time on LightNight. With an ensemble of RLPO members, works which might have been heard by concert-goers in the 1840s will be performed.
Merseyside Dance Initiative (MDI) takes over Liverpool Town Hall with the Big Dance Pledge where people of all ages and abilities can take part in a dance workshop and watch performances through the evening.
The Everyman, meanwhile, will stage a collaborative event with LJMU, Life on the Ocean Wave;which will see the ‘top deck’ theatre bar and balcony brought to life with music, deck games and high class cocktails celebrating the glamour and elegance of travel on board the liners.
Everyman spokesman Dominic Beaumont said:
“The new Everyman gives us a platform to be able to put on a number of different events for people to explore, watch and be part of and we hope people will come and enjoy the games, music, debates, performances and cocktails that will be part of Light Night at the Everyman.”
National Museums Liverpool have also committed ro a range if events. Spokeswoman Lucy Cattell said:
“We’re sure that LightNight visitors will enjoy the Lusitania exhibition at the Maritime Museum, along with many other activities taking place there. People can also pop up to William Brown Street, where The Walker Art Gallery will be open late too.”
LIPA is also involved for the first time this year, with a showcase of student work entitled Follow the Moths; a trail of light installations, to include a glowing giant glowing cocoon suspended from above, a 3D moth eye light box, and light shows on the side of the building.
More information on this year’s event can be found here.