White Night Festival to illuminate public spaces in Bratislava

The third annual contemporary art festival 'Biela Noc' (White Night) will start in Bratislava on Saturday evening (October 7) and last until the early hours of Sunday (October 8). As part of the festival, 70 light installations by Slovak as well as foreign artists will enliven the tallest buildings, the embankment of the Danube River and public spaces in a non-traditional way. According to representatives of the festival's organiser, the Biela Noc civic association, this is the biggest Slovak festival of contemporary art. This year it will feature the highest number of artists. A total of 298 creative artists, performers, musicians and designers will create 270 illuminated balls, 568 neon tubes and 3.5 kilometres of laser rays. They will illuminate a 160 metre tall skyscraper, the Slovak Radio building and other structures, as well as creating a water route from River Park up to Apollo Bridge. The Medical Garden, the defunct Družba fountain at Námestie Slobody, Bratislava Castle, the UFO structure atop SNP Bridge, the Zichy Palace courtyard, the Old Bridge and SNP square will also get an unusual look. "Our intention is to popularise contemporary art, bring it closer to people, to launch a dialogue between public space, art and the wider public. We also want to create an artistic night walk through the city, to work with architecture and show the city in a different light," said the festival's organiser Zuzana Pacáková. Four thematic routes have been prepared for families with children, as well as demanding viewers and visitors who want to have fun with art. An app that includes a map, a description of the works of art and a user's manual is a useful helper for those interested in the festival and it can be downloaded before the event. Part of the program is free of charge.