It's Culture Night 2016 - get out there and enjoy yourself

The city and district will be buzzing with activity this evening as more than forty arts and cultural venues, including museums, galleries, cathedrals, studios and libraries, open their doors to the public, free of charge, to celebrate Culture Night 2016.
CULTURE NIGHT...Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Hilary McClintock pictured on the City's Walls to promote 'Culture Night' which takes place on Friday, September 16. Included in photo are Brendan McMenamin, Visual Arts Officer, DCSDC, and Jill Thompson, Sollus Highland Dancers.CULTURE NIGHT...Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Hilary McClintock pictured on the City's Walls to promote 'Culture Night' which takes place on Friday, September 16. Included in photo are Brendan McMenamin, Visual Arts Officer, DCSDC, and Jill Thompson, Sollus Highland Dancers.
CULTURE NIGHT...Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Hilary McClintock pictured on the City's Walls to promote 'Culture Night' which takes place on Friday, September 16. Included in photo are Brendan McMenamin, Visual Arts Officer, DCSDC, and Jill Thompson, Sollus Highland Dancers.

A wide programme of family friendly events will take place as part of the annual celebration, with people flocking from near and far to experience an evening of culture.

This year’s event promises to be a particularly memorable one with the addition of some fun and quirky events and venues.

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Top of the list for those looking for something different is some Laughter Yoga at the Verbal Arts Centre from 6.45pm until 7.30pm. This promises to be a fun and energetic workshop to help release endorphins, reduce stress and connect people.

London Street will be basked in light as Smartswag undertake some creative up-cycling. Those who join them will take part in craft and design classes from 5pm until 10pm creating contemporary jewellery and decorations from household trash. The winner of best designed award will then win some limited edition prints and jewellery.

As far as creative challenges go, the Yellow Yard will be abuzz with activity beginning from 10.30am with a Wall of Death in Abbazappa Records. Later in the day there will be challenges such as ‘Make Your Own Coffee Cup’ at St. Jude’s Coffee and ‘Design Your Own Book Cover’ at Little Acorns Bookstore. Both will take place from 3pm until 8pm.

Maybe dancing is your thing? If so, make sure to call to Visit Derry’s new offices in Waterloo Street for some Flamenco dancing from Solas Flamengo from 6pm until 8pm.

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Artists based in Derry’s Cathedral Quarter, clustered between Bishop Street and Pump Street, will open their doors on Culture Night, from 7pm-9pm.

At the Bishop Street Studios, at 11 Bishop Street, above Henderson’s Music Shop, you can see a wide variety of art in the making - from contemporary art to traditional landscape painting, from video installation to stone sculpture - and talk to the artists about their work.

Directly across the road is the Garden of Reflection Gallery which is hosting an exhibition from the Inishowen Rural Arts Network.

Derry Mayor Hilary McClintock says Culture Night is a great opportunity for people of all ages to get out and about and experience culture and heritage in different venues.

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“Winning the title as the first UK City of Culture in 2013 showed the world how much we value our culture,so let’s celebrate this on Culture Night,” she said.

“There is definitely something for everyone to enjoy in the packed programme with live music, workshops, talks, tours and creative projects. Just come along and enjoy it, it’s free!”

Full details of this year’s events and the participating venues, are available online at www.derrystrabane.com/culturenight

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