Hive Curates produces Light Up Kilburn for Love Camden.
Andy Welland, Kaleidoscope for Kilburn: (Loose Ends 263), at the Kiln, Kilburn High Road, photography by Crispian Blaize
Camden is hosting a new free Light Up Kilburn festival at Kilburn Grange Park, supported by Brent Council and One Kilburn.
Produced by Hive Curates, the festival is set to brighten up your winter evenings and opens for two weeks from today. It features inspiring illuminated artworks forming a trail and a magical spectacular parade, bringing light, colour, sound and creativity to Kilburn High Road and the surrounding areas. Embedded in the festival is a community first approach, giving voice to different communities through co-creation and participatory workshops. The festival will illuminate our darker evenings, celebrating the diversity, musical heritage and artistic talent that makes Kilburn so unique.
This is the first festival of its kind in North London, and is a free event aimed at celebrating the rich diversity of Kilburn. Expect artworks that delve into the sound system culture, intrinsic to Kilburn’s heritage, restorative artworks that offer a moment of reflection, handcrafted lanterns made by local school children. Projected artworks that illuminate local landmarks and artistic installations that spotlight local businesses on the high road.
Raphael Daden, Time for Change
The main event is 24 February 2024, the festival is free and open to all. Artists taking part include: (Andy Welland, Auda Sakho, Gaylene Gould, Lavinia Cascone, Kerry Lemon, Linett Kamala, Lusia Mascaro, Maria Rozhnova, Michael Speechley, Paige Denham, Raphael Dadan, Sarah Chalkie, Smoking Apples Theatre, Yasmin Braunhofer, Yasmin Nicholas)
Light Up Kilburn is set to be a fantastic festival celebrating the rich communities in the Kilburn area. From light installations, parades and a creative night market, there is something for everyone. I’d really encourage communities to come together and celebrate the wonderful culture that Kilburn has to offer.
“We’ve involved the community and local businesses to make this a special event. From working with some fabulous artists with a connection to Kilburn or the borough, inviting residents to be volunteers and paid stewards to help stage the festival to involving schools and the wider community to create lanterns to illuminate the sky. And there are still places left to take part in lantern making workshops, taking place on 19 February. Visit our Love Camden website for more details.
Councillor Sabrina Francis, Cabinet Member for Young People and Culture
"Hive Curates said: “Light up Kilburn is a playful takeover of the urban realm, bringing joy and positivity to the High Road through colour and creativity. We hope audiences will enjoy the many stories brought to life by local and national artists. The festival is a beacon for hope, resilience and the power of culture to transform our everyday environments”.
Light Up Kilburn Festival will take place from Friday 9 to Saturday 24 February 2024 (5pm to 9pm) where all artworks along the High Street will be illuminated. There will also be a closing parade and entertainment on Saturday 24 February 2024.
For more information on the festival, opportunities to take part in the lantern making workshops and to find out more about the artists we’ve worked with head to lovecamden.org/light-up-kilburn
Auda Sakho, Gleaming Illuiminations through Textiles, at the Traid, Kilburn High Road, photography by Crispian Blaize