Festival of Lights illuminates Downtown Pittsburgh 9/17-27 As Part Of G-20

Duquesne Light and The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust proudly present the Pittsburgh Festival of Lights, September 17-27, 2009. As part of the Trust's 25th anniversary events, the Festival of Lights will launch the week prior to the historic G-20 Pittsburgh Summit, welcoming world leaders, delegates and international media.

Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato said, "As we take the international stage on September 24-25, our region will shine as a model for economic, environmental and quality-of-life transformation. Over the years, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has successfully converted historic buildings into unique art spaces, and The Festival of Lights is another way to illuminate this dramatic transformation and will symbolize our region's bright future founded on its historic strengths and authenticity."

"Pittsburgh is not only a city of innovative industries and championship sports teams. Pittsburgh is a city with a thriving arts and cultural scene that is vital to the region's quality of life," said Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. "The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has led the way for this transformation over the last 25 years, and continues to do so with such programs as the Festival of Lights."

Morgan O'Brien, CEO of Duquesne Light, noted, "We're proud to help welcome our guests from around the world to the G-20 Summit by launching our Festival of Lights with our partner The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. The Duquesne Light partnership with the Cultural Trust is a natural fit, given that the arts serve as a tremendous catalyst for Downtown Pittsburgh's revitalization and growth."

"In conjunction with the Trust's 25th anniversary transforming downtown from a blighted neighborhood into an international model of urban revitalization through the arts, this is an opportune time to highlight sites in the Cultural District," said J. Kevin McMahon, president and CEO of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

Launched in 2007 and funded by Duquesne Light, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's Festival of Lights is produced through efforts of an international design team including: Lucette de Rugy, executive director of ARTLUMIERE; German design team CASA MAGICA (Friedrich Foerster and Sabine Weissinger); Ross Ashton of ETC UK; and Pittsburgh-based Clear Story Creative, led by lighting designer and technical producer Rob Long. The main lighting locations will be concentrated at the Penn Avenue and 10th St. intersection, and include installations, produced by ARTLUMIERE and designed by CASA MAGICA, on:
· David L. Lawrence Convention Center
· The Courtyard Marriott
· The Westin Convention Center

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's Festival of Lights will kick-off Downtown on Thursday evening, September 17th at the corner of 10th Street and Penn Avenue at approximately 8:45 p.m. Free to the public The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's Festival of Lights is funded by Duquesne Light and made possible through generous support from the Richard King Mellon Foundation.

For the complete list of Festival of Lights locations, events and activities, please visit pgharts.org or call 412-456-6666.

ABOUT THE PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST
Founded in 1984, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust originated with the vision of H. J. ("Jack") Heinz II who had a simple theory: the arts can play a leading role in transforming Downtown Pittsburgh and a former red light district into an arts center, spurring cultural activity throughout the region.

Using the arts as a catalyst for urban revitalization and economic development, the Trust has succeeded in securing Pittsburgh's standing as a unique world-class center for arts and entertainment. Today, the vibrant Cultural District-which is anchored by the David L. Lawrence Convention Center and Point State Park-attracts over 2,000,000 people to Downtown Pittsburgh annually.

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