Opera star Cara O’Sullivan will be ambassador for Cork’s Culture Night

Cork City Council has unveiled its programme of events for Culture Night and has announced that renowned opera singer Cara O’Sullivan is this year’s cultural ambassador.

Organised by the Arts Office of Cork City Council, Culture Night will take place on September 16 and is a celebration of the best of Cork music, literature, food, theatre, film, and visual arts.

The Lord Mayor of Cork, Des Cahill, said Culture Night is a free event open to all.

“This year more than 100 venues are participating and over 200 free events for all age groups will take place,” he said. “We are delighted that Cara O’Sullivan is the Cultural Ambassador of Culture Night Cork City and we look forward to celebrating Culture Night on September 16.”

Cork City Council Arts Office, Crawford Art Gallery and CIT College of Art and Design will commemorate the centenary of the Proclamation with Perceptions 2016, an exciting variety of multi-venue exhibitions and events that showcases the artwork of over 60 national and international artists.

For the first time, the 210-year-old Cork Prison will be open for Culture Night. People can tour the jail and visit the site of the execution and former burial place of 1916 patriot Thomas Kent.

Meanwhile, organised by the Munster Literature Centre, On the Trail of the Poets is a poetry trail around the streets of Cork, where well-known poets will recite poetry at iconic Cork locations, including Elizabeth Fort and Nano Nagle Bridge.

Book readings and book launches will also take place and Ms O’Sullivan will launch On The Banks: Cork City in Poems and Songs, edited by Alannah Hopkin.

UCC will host a series of events, including a teddy bear’s walk, a drawing walk, and a photography walk. To commemorate Shakespeare 400, Edel Semple of the Cork School of English will explore the books that inspired Shakespeare’s greatest works.

Lantern Productions and Re-Imagine Cork will present Skiddy’s Castle Plaza — the story of six friends who return to their hang-out spot on North Main St for one last night together before they emigrate from Cork.

Directed by Eoin Ó’hAnnracháin, this performance has been created especially for Culture Night Cork City and will take place on North Main St.

Architect Gareth O’Callaghan will give a guided visit of Nano Nagle’s Place and discuss the challenges presented by the site.

Cork City Council’s Community Arts Officer, Maeve Dineen, with Heather and Oscar Barry at the launch of Culture Night Cork City atWandesford Quay Gallery. Picture: Darragh Kane

Mícheál Ó’ Laoghaire will give a walking tour as gaeilge on the history of the streets of Cork City while those interested in the stars can explore astronomy heritage through Irish with a planetarium pop up in Cork City Hall.

Follow Cork Culture Night on @corkcityarts on Twitter, @corkcityarts on Facebook, and on culturenightcork.ie