White Night Melbourne Draws Record Crowd

Last night 580,000 people visited the city and marvelled, danced, celebrated and delighted in the fourth White Night Melbourne, Australia's most celebrated cultural event.

Melbourne turned on a crisp and clear evening for the local, interstate and international visitors who navigated their way through the White Night Melbourne 5 cultural precincts which featured more than 130 free events.

Artistic Director, Andrew Walsh said "Last night was an incredible night, Melbourne turned out with joy in their heart. White Night again exceeded expectations with an increase in numbers and across the board Melbourne's creative community delivered a spectacular night of art and culture."

Highlights from the night included marvelling at the gravity-defying acrobatics and aerial work at the Circus Circus, Big Top. The Royal Exhibition Building underwent an astonishing transformation designed by Portuguese lighting and projection artists OCUBO in an international collaboration with Ballarat's Pitcha Makin' Fellas and Reko Rennie's phenomenal transformation of Melbourne's favourite meeting place in Federation2.

A major highlight in the Southern Lights precinct was the façade of the NGV which was transformed by award winning indigenous artist Josh Muir into a captivating illuminated work Still Here.

The CBD was up for some illuminating monkey business with Golden Monkey, Gorilla at theWindow, Moving Mountains and the contemplative Place of Longing in Rainbow Alley. And Incubator at Melbourne City Baths where Craig Walsh created an aquatic breeding ground of luminescent life forms was a crowd favourite.

Revellers went loud and proud at Live on Lonsdale, danced the night away at Birrarung Marr with Trip The Light Fantastic, got down, and back up again with the Blues Speak Easy Stage at Star Lawn in Alexandra Gardens then chilled with Jazz at Grooves on Bourke.

Visitors discovered the world of beat poetry at Melbourne Speaks Poetry in City Square and then relaxed in St Paul's Cathedral with a trio of sumptuous classical performances. And Queen Victoria Gardens where Tae Gon Kim's beautifully luminescent The Dresses delighted onlookers.

Restaurants and hotels were full and public transport added extra services as Melbourne's night economy thrived and the city stayed up all night.

Australia's contribution to the major global phenomenon, White Night Melbourne is a State Government initiative created by Victorian Major Events Company and inspired by the international Nuit Blanche movement.

White Night Melbourne will return in 2017.

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