ArtsFest Lights up the City
The UK’s biggest free arts festival returns to Birmingham on 12-14 September with the country’s first ever Light Night event, sponsored by Phillips.
Light Night, a phenomenon that has been sweeping Europe, will see iconic buildings artistically illuminated, as well as light installations, street performers and light trails throughout the City Centre. A night carnival will wind its way from Bullring and the retail area to Centenary Square, in the heart of Birmingham’s entertainment centre. The city’s Museum and Art Gallery will open late for shopping and a chance to browse late around some of the world’s greatest art collections.
Birmingham’s ArtsFest, which has been running for more than a decade, attracted over 200,000 revellers in 2007 with nearly 4,000 artists contributing over 25 hours of performances across 32 stages, marquees and indoor and venues.
Acts due to perform at ArtsFest this year include Stan’s Cafe, who will be staging their acclaimed show “Of All the People in All the World”. Using mountains of rice, each grain representing a single person, formerly innocuous statistics gain emotional power in a constantly changing landscape of rice.
The Classical Fantasia will light up the sky over Centenary Square with performances from BRB, CBSO and Birmingham Opera Company accompanied by a spectacular fireworks display, whilst Kerrang! radio will be presenting some of the region’s best unsigned bands in the City Centre Gardens.
ArtSpace will be showcasing regional artists in association with The Birmingham Art Fair at the Council House, and a new Dhol drumming world record will be attempted in Victoria Square. Workshops and activities for people of all ages will give people a chance to try their hand at a variety of artforms.
Cllr Ray Hassall, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport & Culture said, “This is a great opportunity for local people and visitors to experience the vast wealth of world class arts that Birmingham has to offer. Internationally renowned artists will be performing alongside up and coming new talent to give people a taste of the culture and vibrancy of the city.”
The ArtsFest team is currently recruiting volunteers to help with everything from scheduling and data entry, to installing exhibitions and looking after artists.
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