Culture night to light up Londonderry

The city will be joined by twenty towns and cities across Ireland who are set to come together for "Culture Night" to celebrate cultural activity, with over half a million people expected to explore and engage with culture on the evening of September 24. And there's even an international dimension with Culture Nights also taking place in Leuven in Belgium and New York, in the United States. UK City of Culture, Derry-Londonderry's celebrations will create a cultural city playground with culture in all its forms including painting, poetry, dance, classical music, traditional music, architecture, history, theatre taking place at over 30 venues across the city. From 5.00pm onward, free events, tours, talks and performances will take place for you, your family and friends to enjoy. Among the highlights in our own city are; a spectacular Fashion Show on the city walls, an event at St Cecilia's focusing on its status as a school for the performing arts, a "Night of Crime" event at the Central Library with renowned authors of crime fiction, Eoin McNamee and Stuart Neville and an event at St Columb's Cathedral profiling the history of the cathedral with musical interludes. The whole city is joining forces to make sure that Culture Night is a great success. Shuttle buses will be leaving Guildhall Square and the Tourist Office for the Workhouse Museum on Glendermott Road where visitors can explore what life was like in a real workhouse. Presentations will also be made on the progress of the new Peace Bridge and the regeneration of Ebrington Barracks. At the Waterside Theatre, Echo Echo Dance Studios will host a performance by their dance group following a 10-day development project led by Russian dance artist Angela Doni. Other exciting events include a cheerleading performance from Northern Ireland's cheerleading champions, and a night of free entertainment in Guildhall Square which will include performances wide variety of artists from across the City and North West. The city's newly revamped civic square will also play host to a number of musical highlights with internationally renowned Saxophonist Gerard McChrystal organizing a "Sax in the City" event in Guildhall Square and an opportunity for some of the city's undiscovered musical star to show their ability by taking centre stage outside the Guildhall in the "Cultural Community Celebration" organised by the Greater Shantallow Community Arts. With venues like the Millennium Forum, The Playhouse Theatre, An Culturlann, Gordon Gallery and the Masonic Hall throwing open their doors, there's something in the eclectic 'Culture Night' programme for everyone. Mayor, Cllr Colum Eastwood, said: "With the involvement of local galleries, venues, museums, schools and theatres this event looks set to be a cultural banquet. "This City has so very much to offer and it's a great opportunity to try something different enjoy the choice of a cultural evening in the city." For details of the full programme of events for Culture Night visit www.cityofculture2013.com/culturenight Derry~Londonderry's Culture Night is organised by Derry City Council and supported by ILEX, Culture Night Ireland is co-ordinated by Temple Bar Cultural Trust.