Brighton and Hove was basking in the sunshine on the longest day of the year yesterday – but the city council is already busy planning a festival for when the clocks go back.
The novel White Night night time festival is back for a third year on October 30 – with hopes for the biggest attendance yet.
Again organisers are promising a range of venues open through the night, art trails, installations and illuminations.
The festival is designed to reclaim the city’s streets at night, provide an alternative to the dominant Saturday night drinking scene and celebrate the dynamic cultural offer of the city day and night.
The hope is that up to 30,000 people could attend, up from around 25,000 last year and 10,000 the year before.
Again, thanks to the EU Interreg 4 Channel programme the event is twinned with a similar happening in France, Nuit Blanche in Amiens, on October 16.
Organisers Brighton & Hove City Council and the local Arts Commission are calling for artists to literally link the two festivals, asking them to come forward with ideas for a key site-specific artistic commission for the events in both countries. The project, worth 7000 Euros could use sound, light or performance. More details are at www.whitenightnuitblanches.com
This year the theme is ‘Illumination’ – in the sense of learning and lighting. The city’s artists, curators, venues and programmers will play with different interpretations of the word. They aim to create a wide range of experiences and events for one night only and unique to Brighton & Hove.
Cabinet councillor for culture David Smith said: “White Night is getting a growing reputation as a unique and enjoyable festival for Brighton & Hove and is attractive to both residents and visitors. It is now an important aspect our award-winning management of the night time economy, which is having a civilising effect on the city centre. It should be an extraordinary night.”
Last year’s festival was hailed as a success by many – except Green councillor Ben Duncan, who agreed with a resident who complained to him the event was “racist”.
