Light Night in Canning Town London

The Brick Box presents the first ever “Light Night” in Canning Town on Saturday 30th November 2013. Speirs + Major are proud to be associated with this first London  “Light Night” event.

The Brick Box say “ We have commandeered some of the world’s most creative minds in the use of light and space to celebrate and explore Canning Town for a night of artistic insights and cultural fun…just another master stroke in re-imagination from the ladies at The Brick Box, the team that brought you free arts events in the avenues of Brixton Village Market, Wandsworth Arts Festival, the A13 Green and the Royal Victoria Beach.

The sparkling lineup includes:

● Leni Schwendinger, a New York based urbanist and lighting artist, will be leading a NightSeeing LightWalk and a talk on creative public space illumination http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Kljhr3g3Ds

● Speirs + Major’s lighting designers will transform the underpass of the A13 with an interactive installation using water, reflections and drums

● AngloIndian artist, musician and performer, Bishi, who will present her live show at national Travelling Art Circus and charity for children, The House of Fairy Tales http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df3WsWaziNE

● DJ set from artist Gavin Turk at The House of Fairy Tales

● Output Arts who will give visitors the chance to transform a murky underpass into a giant interactive artist’s canvas using light as paint

This Arts Council England funded event is London’s first ‘Light Night’ and all activities are free. As well as several major new artistic commissions, there will be live music, games, workshops, food stalls and bars with hot and cold drinks. Activities begin at 6pm and go on until late. Sites of activity, which are within easy walking distance of each other, include the A13 underpass opposite Canning Town station, the Bow Creek Ecology Park, The House of Fairy Tales, Ashsakula’s Caravanserai, and Core Arts’ Growing Space. Specially designed maps will be available on the night to help visitors to explore the area.

Co-Director of The Brick Box, Rosie Freeman, said “Light Nights have a tradition of championing cultural activity after dark as well as making beautiful art accessible to many and Light Night Canning Town will be no exception. But the Light Night concept is particularly relevant in CanningTown because it is an area which suffers from negative perceptions and which truly benefits from the transformative power of the arts. Contrary to those perceptions and statistics of high deprivation, there is a strong community here and a real thirst for arts and culture”.

Cllr Conor McAuley, Newham Council’s executive member for regeneration, said: “This is an opportunity to see this part of Canning Town like you have never seen it before. There’s a huge appetite amongst the local community for events and activities, particular where they can participate and become involved directly. This event will also help to raise the profile of Canning Town across London, thereby establishing it as a destination in its own right and supporting the longterm regeneration of the area”.
Canning Town resident, Patricia Regis, said “With the A13 Green, people were saying it was the best summer they ever had because usually in Canning Town people are talked down to but something like this was for them, they felt it was theirs, and they owned it and really really had a good time so we’ve got to do more”.

For more information on Light Night Canning Town, visit the website

The project is funded by Arts Council England, Bouygues UK, Sisk UK, Cathedral Group, One Housing Group, The House of Fairy Tales, and The Brick Box.

For further information please contact Rosie on rosie@thebrickbox.co.uk

13 Nov