White Night Melbourne Precipitation and Enlightenment

Question: Discuss about the White Night Melbourne Precipitation and Enlightenment. Answer: Introduction: White Night Melbourne is a one-night event organised in the city of Melbourne as a State Government of Victoria initiative that is a magical transformation of the city into a visual wonderland for the young as well as the old. The festival is split into four different unique precincts- Innocence Returned situated on the banks of the River Yarra, Swing Central situated near Flinders Street, Flames and Fantasy situated at the Carlton Gardens, and Precipitation and Enlightenment situated near Melbourne Central. However, the heart of the event remains along the Swanston Street since many city blocks are closed for creating a splendid playground to accommodate tourists and locals for them to explore. Upon staging the event the city becomes a spectacular feast for the viewers due to the wonderful installations, exhibitions, lightning and other music and art performances. The event acts as an enchantment of the fairy tales and a wonderland for the whole family (whitenightmelbourne.com.au 20 17). The colourful performances win the heart of everyone coming to be part of it and witness one of the greatest events of splendour and pomp. From dusk to dawn, artists, performers and musicians weave a spell of magic over the streets, parks, public spaces, cultural institutions and laneways of the city as the city celebrates creativity. For the viewers, it is a night that makes surreal seem real, and the event is a rare opportunity for experiencing the city in a different way (Cuthbertson 2015). A range of restaurants and fast food joints remain open through out the night for catering the people with a wide range of food options. People come and have a gala time that they cherish for ever. To sum up, the event is a 12-hour multi-media arts marathon (Artsreview.com.au 2017). Origin of concept The event is not an original idea as the concept has been taken from White Night (Nuit Blanche) event originating in Paris in the year 2002. Since the beginning of Nuit Blanche, it has been widely inspiring events of international fame across the globe in around 20 cities, including Melbourne. Since Melbourne is a city of artistic innovation, it has embraced successfully the unique opportunity for showcasing the city and providing a platform for artists on the local, national and international level for connecting with the audiences from Australia as well as around the globe for only one night. The White Night Melbourne is a tailored event from the original one that is a reflection of Melbournes distinct characteristics and passions. The event in Melbourne is an illustration of the citys rich culture and heritage and encompasses all the significant features the city has to offer (Langdon 2017). Unique Selling Proposition The unique selling proposition that the event offers over other events scheduled at this time in Melbourne is the extravagant kaleidoscope of movement and colours. The celebrated event showcases the beautiful heritage streetscape of the city to the world that other events do not deliver. The exceptional display of lights over the night time makes the event stand out from other events that are culturally and socially famous in the city as well as the country. The first staging of White Night Melbourne was in the year 2013, and that was an immediate success. Around 300000 people were found to come for the all night event. Since then, there has been an average footfall of 500000 people who eagerly wait to become a part of the important cultural event marked on the Australian calendar. The creative theme for White Night 2017 had been inspired by four creative pillars of accessibility, engagement, inclusion and innovation. In my opinion, the event has therefore gained success in 2017 as it has been triumphant in attracting more number of people coming for the event as compared to the previous years (Campbell 2017). Benefits for the city of Melbourne in hosting the event I believe that the benefits of hosting the event for the city of Melbourne are multi-dimensional and multi-faceted. Apart from being a well-managed and fun festival, the event builds up a noteworthy opportunity for gaining social and economic benefits for the community. The benefits are similar in nature to that of tourism as it brings different communities together and instils an essence of community pride. The economic benefits are wide spread for the performing artists and people putting up stalls for the event. It is a major chance for them to showcase their talent and connect with the people. It stimulates business growth for many small enterprises. Off-site spending generates revenue for the city, mostly by the visitors, restaurants and souvenier shops. In my opinion, the festival also is a good place for free advertising and marketing for the local businesses. On the social grounds, the event fosters community belonging and strengthen relationships. Reflection on the event In my opinion, such events hold significance for any city, or country, as such events have the potential to transform the impractical to practical through the exhibition of culture, creativity and inventiveness. The street performances, installations, lighting, music, dance, film screenings and interactive events that are a part of the event are all successful in exemplifying the rich culture, customs and traditions of the city and the country as a whole and people, therefore, welcome such events whole heartedly. It is, therefore, likely that Melbourne White Night event can last for atleast another half a decade in future. The event has taken place in the hearts of the people in the city as well as many parts of the country and therefore has made a strong group of supporters who want to carry forward the legacy of organising the event. Moreover, for me, the event is a wonderful platform for talented artists to showcase their talent and it is also a good means of income for a group of individuals. This chance would definitely not be missed, and the event would, therefore, continue to be held at the regular intervals and has a bright future. References Artsreview.com.au. (2017).White Night returns in 2017 | Australian Arts Review. [online] Available at: https://artsreview.com.au/white-night-returns-in-2017/ [Accessed 21 Mar. 2017]. Campbell, L. (2017).An All Night Street Festival Is Happening In Melbourne This Weekend. [online] Huffington Post Australia. Available at: https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2017/02/13/an-all-night-street-festival-is-happening-in-melbourne-this-week/ [Accessed 21 Mar. 2017]. Cuthbertson, D. (2015).White Night Melbourne 2015: The best of an all-night spectacle. [online] The Sydney Morning Herald. Available at: https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/white-night-melbourne-2015-the-best-of-an-allnight-spectacle-20150221-13lb3t.html [Accessed 21 Mar. 2017]. Langdon, M. (2017).Dont forget your jacket for White Night. [online] Heraldsun.com.au. Available at: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/everything-you-need-to-know-about-white-night/news-story/11eb8696218d4d0a755bbb13ddede582 [Accessed 21 Mar. 2017]. Whitenightmelbourne.com.au. (2017).White Night Melbourne. [online] Available at: https://whitenightmelbourne.com.au/about [Accessed 21 Mar. 2017].