Liverpool shines bright on
LightNight!
Photographs and video by Patrick
Trollope.
ON Friday, 15 May 2015, thousands of
people took to the streets of Liverpool for the 6th annual LightNight, the 1
night arts and culture festival that sees galleries, museums, heritage venues
and arts spaces across the City keep their doors open late for special events,
performances and activities for all ages.
LightNight marks the launch of a 7 week series of major events entitled One
Magnificent City, continuing with the visit of Cunard’s Three Queens, the Mersey
River Festival from 4 June to 7 June 2015 and more.
Christina Grogan, Director of Open Culture (LightNight producers), said:-
"LightNight gets bigger every year and our 6th festival was definitely the best
yet, with more than 130 free events taking place. We’re always overwhelmed by
the incredible response the events get from the thousands of people who come out
to see what’s happening and get involved. It’s a great chance to show off
Liverpool’s amazing cultural offer, and remind people what’s out there not just
on LightNight, but on every day of the year."
Brian Sedgewick, LightNight visitor, said:- "LightNight is one of my
favourite nights of the year; there’s always so much going on, and it’s a great
way to discover new places and artists. The City always feels really exciting."
This year the festival was themed:- 'Looking to the New World', to
commemorate the 175th Anniversary of the Cunard Line and the forthcoming arrival
of the 'Three Queens' from 24 May to 26 May 2015. Audiences
flocked to every corner of the City Centre, from the Baltic Triangle to the St
George’s Quarter, and took part in everything from interactive street theatre to
screen printing workshops, Bollywood dancing and walking tours.
HEX//LightDiVision, with the Harlequin Dynamite Marching Band, was also a
resounding success as hundreds/thousands of people saw the Dyad ManMachines
perform a brand new piece specially commissioned by Open Culture for the
festival.
Events were staged at some of the City’s most iconic buildings, with the
Metropolitan Cathedral, Maritime Museum, Philharmonic Hall and Cunard Building
all participating for the 1st time.
Merseyside Transport Trust was on hand to ferry festivalgoers from one event to
another, providing a free heritage bus service that looped the City.
LightNight took place thanks to sponsorship from LJMU and Liverpool BID Company
and is funded by Liverpool City Council and Arts Council England.
Plans are already underway for next year’s LightNight on Friday, 13 May 2016!
To see the rest of the footage and part of our video coverage of the 2015 Liverpool LightNight please click on here now and also visit Facebook page for yet more video footage.