Cultural York - By Night

York by night

The ancient city centre of York is being transformed at night by a stunning programme of public art commissions and the permanent lighting of some of the most historic buildings in Britain.

The ten year Illuminating York programme is showing the city in a whole new light as visitors can take the short and pleasant walk around the city centre to enjoy architecture beautifully enhanced with light, and soak up the vibrant atmosphere.

Contemporary art installations and beautifully illuminated heritage sites, each using the most advanced lighting technologies, are lighting up the city to enhance visitors' experience of the historic city centre in the evenings.

Three areas of York - Exhibition Square / Bootham Bar, the historic core of the city and along the River Ouse – are now sensitively and beautifully lit to encourage people to enjoy York as much by night as by day. New art installations, some permanent and some temporary, are putting local and international artists in the spotlight in York, showing the dramatic effects of the latest creative contemporary talent in one of the most historic settings in Europe.

The highlights of the 2007 Illuminating York programme include:

· Gateway to the Quarter, Finkle Street, year-round

A unique digital urban art gallery where anyone can show their work to a wide audience.

· Weather Patterns, York Art Gallery, year-round

Five electroluminescent panels display patterns of light inspired by the decoration in York’s historic buildings.

· Dancing in the Streets, St Sampson’s Square, 18–22 January

By KMA Creative Technology, one of the UK's leading creative technology companies, Dancing in the Streets uses the movement of its own audience to create a kinetic light sculpture that is projected onto the streets after dark. The pavement becomes the canvas for this work that actively invites passers-by to walk all over it.

· Recovered Light, York Minster, 6-28 January

An immense projection by cutting-edge New York artists Shelley Eshkar, Marc Downie and Paul Kaiser illuminates the gridwork of scaffolding covering the entire eastern façade of York Minster, highlighting the Great East Window.

· LUX, Micklegate, 5pm til 8pm, 19-28 January

LUX (latin for ‘light’) is a mini festival of light which will reveal and animate the historic street of Micklegate through after-dark artwork. Showcasing the work of graduate and undergraduate artists from York St John University, LUX will transform the evening experience of this street into a busy, exciting atmosphere for everyone to enjoy.

After an evening stroll to soak up the atmosphere why not visit one of York’s four theatres - York Theatre Royal, which has attracted stars of the stage and screen for many years; the Grand Opera House, with a performance to suit every taste and age group; the intimate Friargate Theatre, home to the national Riding Lights Theatre Company; or Rowntree Theatre, a legacy of the great chocolate maker. Or get to know the most haunted city in Europe on one of the popular evening ghost tours.

Film lovers can then head to one of the two cinemas: City Screen, offering a mixture of art-house and mainstream films, or Vue Cinema, boasting twelve screens. And with its vibrant restaurant scene, York really is the ideal city to explore at night.