Minister for Tourism and Major Events The Hon John Eren has joined the City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Des Hudson at the Ballarat’s Mining Exchange to announce the dates and locations for White Night 2017 and the newly appointed Artistic Director and Executive Producer David Atkins OAM.
White Night Melbourne will return to the streets, laneways and gardens of the CBD from dusk till dawn on Saturday 18 February 2017, while the inaugural White Night Ballarat will follow on Saturday 4 March.
Taking the helm as White Night’s Artistic Director and Executive Producer is one of Australia’s most celebrated Artistic Directors and Producers David Atkins OAM. David takes over from Andrew Walsh AM after four critically acclaimed White Night Melbourne events from 2013-2016.
Minister Eren said Ballarat was the ideal regional centre 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,” he said.
“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.”
Ballarat in Victoria now joins Melbourne, Paris, Toronto and Sao Paolo as part of an international network of creative cities holding Nuit Blanche events annually.
Incoming Artistic Director and Executive Producer David Atkins welcomed today’s announcement, “In four short years Melbourne’s unique White Night has become one of the most successful and prestigious major events in Australia,” said Mr Atkins. “I am honored and excited to have won the role of Artistic Director and Executive Producer for this major event.”
“My team and I will take the baton from the event’s predecessors and carry it forward into a new era of success by capitalising on White Night’s past achievements and ensuring the events future trajectory is on target. We intend to honour the success and legacy we inherit from the events previous Artistic Director and production team while simultaneously bringing a new energy and perspective to White Night.”
“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,” said Mr Atkins.
After a state-wide search for a host location for the first regional White Night event, Ballarat has been selected. “White Night is a spectacular kaleidoscope of colour and movement, and from dusk until dawn Ballarat will be seen and heard as never before,” said City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Des Hudson. “This renowned event is a priceless opportunity to showcase Ballarat’s beautiful heritage streetscape to the world.”
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
For more information, visit: www.whitenightmelbourne.com.au for details.
Image: White Night Melbourne 2016 – Josh Muir’s Still Here (supplied)