Embrace all there is to see and do in regional Victoria when the immersive art festival, White Night, takes over Bendigo and Geelong. Programs for both of the cities were announced today, and they will take over the streets with immersive projections, interactive installations, live music and street food.
Across Bendigo and Geelong, White Night will feature over 50 large-scale works, made up of live music, projections, installations and more. Over 300 local and international artists are involved, and 70 per cent of them are based in regional Victoria. White Night will take over Bendigo on Saturday September 3. It will then transform Geelong on Saturday October 8.
White Night
The theme this year is, “Everything on the land is reflected in the sky”. Both programs have put their own spin on the theme, in a way that will celebrate the unique characteristics of each city. White Night will start with a ceremony by the Traditional Owners of the country, followed by a celebratory night of art, culture and community.
“We are thrilled to transform the heart of both Bendigo and Geelong for two very special nights through the cultural celebration that is White Night,” said Creative Director Joseph O’Farrell. “Audiences can expect to be wowed by a world-class line-up of stunning light displays, celestial oddities, street eats and powerful, diverse voices.”
White Night, or Nuit Blanche, was first conceived in Paris in 2002, and will celebrate its twentieth year this October. It came to Melbourne, and Australia, for the first time in 2013, to a crowd of 300, 000 people. The last time it took place in both Bendigo and Geelong was 2018.
Bendigo
When: Saturday September 3, from 7pm to 1am.
White Night will showcase the city’s gold rush era streetscapes, as well as its heritage trams, Chinese legacy and local music scene. The buildings will be lit with stunning projections and vibrant colours. Discover everything, from a majestic, lion-like creature roaming the streets, to a nine-metre high unicorn head pulsating with light.
Art Simone and other leading drag artists will dance the night away on top of one of the heritage trams in a celebration of LGBTQI+ culture. Another heritage tram will bring the big brass for toe-tapping performances.
Celebrity host Andy Trieu will hit the decks at the Golden Dragon DJ Stage to mix sets in front of Derek Ho’s White Rabbit Candy Buffet.
A glittering Neon Archway from Carla O’Brien will draw crowds into Rosalind Park. There, you’ll find a Neon Dog Park, filled with glowing dogs playing fetch and wagging their tails. Also in Rosalind Park, you’ll find inflatable gum nut flowers that will help you tune out the city sounds, and into the meditative soundscape of the bush. See Faces of Djarra, a celebration of determination, resilience and presence that reflects the faces of local Traditional Owners, reflected on the trees in the park.
The night will light up your senses, with plenty of live music from some of Bendigo’s best performers. The bursting music program will see local artists perform on the back of a vintage Dodge and on the steps of the Capital Theatre. View Street Carnival’s program will transport you to the buzzing town of New Orleans. Then, learn dance moves from genres like hip hop, Bollywood, salsa and more on a stage in Pall Mall.
Geelong
When: Saturday October 8, 7pm to 1am
White Night will celebrate Geelong’s automotive culture and celebrated design, harnessing its industrial legacy with bold artworks and music from across the Bellarine. Expect plenty of dazzling projections across Johnstone Park, City Hall and more. There will also be neon creations, featuring glowing playable musical instruments, and neon marine creatures on the Geelong Foreshore. The waterfront will also feature more underwater creatures, including baby eels glowing in the water.
See a performance piece by JOFMAKESART, in which a car is flattened by an industrial car crusher into a tube of twisted metal. This will be accompanied by guitar riffs from two heavy metal rock musicians.
Enjoy art and exhibitions after hours at Geelong Gallery and The Project Space. Deakin University’s Waterfront Façade will feature performances and an exhibition from Deakin alumni.
Take a moment to sit and relax among handcrafted flowers in the installation, Imaginary Botanicals at Steampacket Gardens.
Emerging and established musicians from the Bellarine will perform under the stars. There will also be pop up performers along Western Beach Road, and a Drag City featuring some of Australia’s best drag artists.
This was just scratching the surface of the extensive program. To see what’s on at White Night, click here.