Experience the Northern Lights in Seven European Cities

This week the European Capital of Culture 2014, Ume, and VisitSweden start atour through Europe. People across Europe will get the chancetoexperience the Northern Lights, Sami culture, as well as 4.9tonnes of crystal clear ice. A spectacular see through exhibition centre resembling a giant ice cube, camp fires and a traditional Sami 'kta', the Sami version of a Nordic teepee, will bring a taste of the unique culture of Ume.

Four huge ice blocks is just one of the attractions when Ume goes on a tour around seven European cities. Armed with everything good from Ume and Northern Sweden it will give passers-by a taste of the magnificent northern Swedish landscape and nature, and show the contrast between Northern Swedish summer and winter along with the eight Sami seasons. The midsummer celebration, Northern Lights and Swedish lifestyle will share the space with music, and contemporary interior design from development project Designlabland.

"Increasing numbers of Europeans have visited Sweden, but few have been to Ume and experienced the incredible nature and culture that can be found in Northern Sweden. Now Ume invites people across Europe to come and experience the Northern Lights, the unique Sami culture and the crystal clear ice that each year is used to build the world renowned ICEHOTEL. Passers-by can watch skilled artists bringing ice sculptures to life," says Viveca Burkhardt, Global PR Manager at VisitSweden.

Swedish music, film and art will be shown throughout the exhibition days, the semi-finalist photos, films and designs of the creative competition Artists Caught by [Ume] will be displayed, and in the evening the spectacular Northern Lights show will shine.

Programme

• 11.00 - 18.00 The event space is open to the public
• Ice sculpting
• A selection of Swedish culture and Sami traditions, music, film, design
• Semi-finalist exhibition showcasing the creative competition Artists Caught by [Ume]
• Northern lights show all night

Starting in Copenhagen on 5 September, the Caught by [Ume] tour will visit Warsaw, London, Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelona and Hamburg. See the tour schedule and sneak a peek at the semi-finalists in Artists Caught by [Ume] on http://www.caughtbyumea.com/tour/