Cork City Council launched its jam-packed programme of events for Culture Night 2014, taking place Friday, September 19^th.  This year offers the biggest programme yet with venues throughout Cork city throwing open their doors with  over 200 events across 100 plus venues  showcasing the best of Cork culture with music, dance, reading, food, theatre, film and much more all for FREE.

Cork Culture Night offers something for everyone providing a mix of cultural events in markets, theatres, museums, galleries, cathedrals, studios, libraries, parks and government buildings across the city. The full programme is available on www.culturenightcork.ie.

Speaking at the launch, Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Mary Shields said: “Culture Night is always a favourite event in Cork, loved by young and old. This year we wanted to focus on the rich culture that exists throughout the year by highlighting the city’s incredible festivals. This is the 7^th year of Cork Culture Night and the interest from venues around Cork has been unbelievable with the most diverse selection of events on offer to date and all for free;  everyone can have a new experience.”

This year’s night has a focus on the renowned festivals of Cork with themed culture buses provided for free by Bus Eireann, highlighting Cork’s Jazz, Choral and Folk festivals with free entertainment from musicians delighting passengers all night.

Cork Film Festival will host a diverse night of cinema including 2013’s Festival Shorts (6:30 PM) at the Triskel Arts Centre along with a special open air cinema in Fitzgerald’s Park.  The Cork French Film Festival will also feature with a special screening of The Umbrellas of Cherborg (Les Parapluies de Cherborg) (4.00-5.30 PM) in The Gate Cinema. Along with film, there is an extensive selection of visual art being displayed throughout the city. Artist Daragh Wilkins will spend the week leading into Culture Night installing a new piece of work, made of flour laid on the floor, in the Atrium, New Civic Building, which will fade away over the course of Culture Night. The creation of this installation can be watched live on www.corkcity.ie/tv.

Cork International Short Story Festival will open its pages throughout the city, presenting readings at Waterstones (6.45-8:00 PM) and a night of readings by teen poets in Millennium Hall (beginning at 5:00 PM). Louise O’Neill, author of the critically acclaimed Only Ever Yours, will also read at Millennium Hall, where the Seán Ó Faoláin Short Story Prize will later be awarded to one talented writer.

The festival spirit continues as music trails and concerts take place throughout the city. These tune-tastic offerings include local DJ Stevie G and Christina Underwood’s Vinyl Love Music Trail (12.00PM-8.00PM), with them performing in Cork’s new and second hand music shops. Additionally, there will be The Lee Sessions Trad Trail (6.30 PM-10.00PM) and Music Generation Cork City (2.00PM-6.00PM) engaging audiences of every age with activities and performances. The Vanbrugh Quartet Concert by Candlelight will be held in the City Hall (10.00 PM) and a special secret concert by Lisa Hannigan  – with the audience not finding out the location until the time of the concert.

“Regardless of your age or interests, Cork City Culture Night 2014 has something to appreciate. This year’s programme is easy to digest, with events being conveniently outlined and broken down according to category. This year’s night has created such interest that we have had to include an all-day section in our programme, as many of our family orientated events are running throughout the day.” says Valerie O’Sullivan, Director Corporate and External Affairs, Cork City Council.

This year is particularly family-friendly, with children and teenage offerings including workshops in origami and collage (James Barry Exhibition Centre, CIT Bishopstown 12:00 PM- 9:00 PM), puppet shows and face painting (Cork County Hall, 4PM- 10PM), science exhibitions (CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory, 6:00 PM- 10:00 PM), interactive concerts and much more. Participants can head to IAWS building on Albert’s Quay from 6:00 PM to learn how to make a 36-foot dragon from tape, or help transform the Glucksman Gallery into an artistic zoo with drawings, paintings and sculptures of animals that they create onsite (5:00 PM- 9:00 PM).

Culture night wouldn’t be complete without indulging in Cork City’s food culture. Nash 19 will hold a series of demonstrations and tastings from McCarthy’s Butchers of Kanturk and Longueville House Cider (5:00 PM-9:00 PM). L’Atitude 51 Wine Café will welcome Anthony Creswell of Ummera Smokehouse Timoleague as he presents Ummera products with matching wines/sherries (5:00 PM- 8:00 PM). Finally, the ever atmospheric English Market will have a selection of delicious local dishes that all are encouraged to try (6:30 PM- 9:00 PM).

To keep up to date on Cork Culture Night follow @CorkCityArts on Twitter or on Facebook at Cork City Arts.

Culture Night is brought to you by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in partnership with Cork City Council.