Art After Dark Returns to Light Up London’s West End With Free Late-Night Art and Music

London’s West End will once again be transformed after dark next week as Art After Dark returns with a week long celebration of public art, music and late night culture.

Running from February 3 to February 10, the free festival will see artworks appear across central London while galleries, museums and venues extend their opening hours, offering Londoners a much needed lift during the winter evenings.

At the centre of this year’s programme is a major new public artwork in Piccadilly Circus. Titled Rise and Shine, the seven metre installation by London based artist Lakwena Maciver will dominate the famous junction with towering disco light boxes. Drawing inspiration from the city’s 1980s and 1990s nightlife, the work combines acid bright visuals with a soundtrack of hip hop, soul and funk.

Throughout the week, additional public artworks will appear across the West End, including rotating digital commissions displayed on the Piccadilly Lights and surrounding screens, ensuring the area remains in constant visual flux after sunset.

Galleries are also playing a major role in the festival. On Thursday February 5, visitors can take part in a West End gallery crawl featuring spaces such as Cristea Roberts Gallery, currently exhibiting work by Georg Baselitz, and The Mayor Gallery, which is showcasing radical European artists. Art lovers can either follow a free self guided route or book a guided tour led by experts.

The following evening, several of the capital’s major institutions will open late for a Friday night programme. National Gallery, Royal Academy of Arts and the National Portrait Gallery will all remain open until 9pm, giving visitors the chance to explore world class collections after hours.

Beyond the visual arts, Art After Dark will spill into nearby venues with live music sessions hosted at locations including Haymarket Hotel, Box Piccadilly, San Carlo Cicchetti and the Hard Rock Cafe London. A headline afterparty at the National Gallery on Thursday February 5 will be led by drag icon Bimini.

To round out the celebration, many local restaurants and eateries will offer special deals and discounts during the week, encouraging visitors to linger longer in the area and make an evening of it.

With its mix of large scale public art, late night gallery access, live music and food offers, Art After Dark is set to once again light up the West End and turn central London into a vibrant nocturnal playground.

Photo Credit: DepositPhotos.com