Nuart Aberdeen events programme launched ahead of June festival
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THE events programme for an Aberdeen street art festival has been announced.
Organisers of Nuart Aberdeen have unveiled an inspiring suite of events in the city, to accompany the extensive street art.
Aberdeen Inspired, a group aiming to improve city centre commerce, has announced a range of exciting events and entertainment in celebration of Aberdeen’s much loved street art festival, which returns to the city from June 9 to 12.
Walking tours, public art workshops, exclusive film screening, debates and talks, festival food, drink and craft stalls and staged entertainment are all planned for the festival weekend.
Organisers will officially kick off the festival programme at 1pm on Saturday, June 11 at a special Inspired Nights event on Broad Street.
Inspired Nights will feature music, street food, bars and creative spaces for children and adults and will run all weekend on Broad Street from noon-9pm on Friday 10 and Saturday June 11, and until 6pm on Sunday, June 12.
Free walking tours around new art installations will also launch after the official launch ceremony and run regularly on the Saturday and Sunday.
The tours are free, open to all ages and tickets must be booked in advance.
Plenty more highlights are available at exclusive film screenings at the Belmont Cinema, as well as a free conference exploring the festival theme of Reconnect at the Cowdray Hall on Friday, June 10 and Saturday, June 11.
A total of 11 artists from across the world are descending on the city in early June with the goal of creating art that people will make a connection with on the city’s walls and spaces.
Adrian Watson, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Inspired said “What better place than Aberdeen city centre to act as the perfect stage for the events that will bolster our highly acclaimed street art festival, Nuart Aberdeen.
“Everyone will find something to enjoy as part of the festival weekend and the programme of events, workshops, film screenings and tours simply act as a further draw to reconnect people with the city.
“We know that the festival appeals to both locals and visitors who come from far and wide to marvel at the public art that is created.
"The additional events simply give visitors from further afield even more reasons to travel to Aberdeen, join in the celebrations and be part of the triumphant return of the festival.
“I can feel the excitement building in the city and encourage people to come out and enjoy all that is on offer.
"The return of Nuart Aberdeen offers a huge boon to our city centre businesses and its value to the city should not be underestimated.”
The festival conference programme also features a screening of Martha A Picture Story, a film documenting the life of exceptional American photojournalist Martha Copper, whose photographs have appeared in National Geographic, Smithsonian and Natural History magazines as well as several dozen books and journals.
In 1984 Martha put together a book of photographs illustrating graffiti subculture titled Subway Art which has become known as the "Bible of Graffiti" selling millions of copies worldwide.
Director and curator of Nuart Aberdeen, Martyn Reed said “What a privilege it will be to welcome Martha Copper to Aberdeen for the launch of the festival.
"Born in the 1940’s she is a lady that I have great admiration for and one that has accomplished so much throughout her career.
“As a woman artist she broke new pictorial ground highlighting a grassroots art movement that was later embraced by mainstream culture, while remaining steadfast to be recognized as more than just a graffiti photographer.
“The film screening will be followed by an In Conversation session during which the audience can ask Martha questions about her life and work.
“The two day conference which then follows features contributions from some of the worlds’ leading street artists alongside academics, authors, researchers, curators, producers, writers and other cultural-sector professionals who are dedicated to exploring issues surrounding new forms of art and activity in public space.
“Our hope is that Nuart’s RECONNECT edition can help to dial down the background anxiety that had become part of our daily lives.”
Click here for the full programme.
