Ballarat will be lighting up alongside Victoria’s own capital Melbourne, as well as Paris, Toronto and São Paulo as it takes part for the very first time in the annual White Night multi-media arts event.
As the first ever rural city to be included in this 24-hour party, Ballarat’s streets, laneways and gardens in the city centre will be visually transformed. Light projections and laser installations will flood the streets and buildings. Bands, street performers and food stalls will be scattered throughout the town centre, as thousands of predicted visitors attend the event.
Taking over from Andrew Walsh, Melbourne’s White Night Artistic Director for the last four years, will be celebrated Artistic Director and Executive Producer David Atkins OAM.
Atkins commented: “As a young boy, training to become a performer, I made the yearly vigil to Ballarat for the South Street Eisteddfod. I never dreamed back then that 45 years later I’d be coming back to create the inaugural White Night Ballarat.”
He went on to explain, “White Night is conceived and designed to achieve maximum impact in the shortest window of time. What festivals accomplish in weeks, White Night must do in 12 hours. This incredible opportunity to reimagine the city through its artists, architecture, streets, parks and laneways is both daunting and incredibly exciting – we can’t wait to start work!”
John Eren, Ballarat’s Minister for Tourism and Major Events expressed his excitement having David on board, and explained why Ballarat will be the perfect place to host White Night:
“Ballarat is a wonderful regional centre with a superb streetscape. What better location for the first ever regional White Night? This event will attract visitors from all over Victoria and Australia, and that’s great for the local economy… It takes abundant talent to deliver an event as spectacular as White Night, and we’re in great hands with David Atkins and his team.”
White Night Ballarat is scheduled for 4th of March next year, following White Night in Melbourne on 18th February.
White Night Melbourne
7pm Saturday 18 February – 7am Sunday 19 February 2017
White Night Ballarat
7pm Saturday 4 March 2017 – 7am Sunday 5 March 2017
