MERGE Arts Festival

MERGE 2013

presents

Third annual arts, music and performance festival in Bankside, London

19 September to 20 October 2013

LONDON, England: MERGE, the annual arts, music and performance festival celebrating the contemporary culture and rich heritage of Bankside, returns to London’s dynamic cultural and business district between 19 September and 20 October 2013.

Prepare for the transformation of Bankside landmarks such as the river walkway (near Tate modern), the Kirkaldy Testing Museum and Flat Iron Square, as artists, performers and collectives interpret the space with an awareness of the historical culture of the environment.

The festival will feature internationally renowned artist Candy Chang, who will be constructing her famous piece ‘Before I Die’, whilst award winning artist James Capper will be using a unique Victorian testing machine to create new sculptures within the Kirkaldy Testing Museum. If you happen to be walking down Blackfriars Road your eyes will not be deceiving you as sculptor Alex Chinneck will be highlighting the history and life of a building by turning it upside down.

MERGE is created by Better Bankside, making Bankside a place to work, live, visit, and do business, and leading Bankside-based arts events company, Illuminate Productions.

Key highlights include:

+++Bankside Transformed: Artists Candy Chang, Alex Chinneck, Mark Logue and Marcus Lyall celebrate the continuing regeneration of Bankside by converting hoardings and buildings into public works of art.


+++ James Capper and The Kirkaldy Museum: Merging art and science, award winning artist Capper will be working with a unique Victorian water powered Hydraulic Testing Machine to create new sculptures.

+++ Oscillatorial Binnage - Music at Breaking point: Sound artists Dan Wilson and Chris Weaver, will perform a site specific piece in the Kirkaldy Testing Museum. The space will become alive with sounds generated from within itself.

+++ Stillpoint Theatre – The Department of Unreliable Memoirs: The Department of Unreliable Memoirs takes place in a tiny office in a government department that time and economic rationalism forgot.

+++ Blackout: an ongoing series of arts, technology, science and music crossover experiences designed to create a universal platform for discovery.

+++ Music by the River: The outdoor Riverside Stage on the walkway by Millennium Bridge will host live bands showcasing original song writing and musical talent during the first two weekends of the festival.

Donald Hyslop, Chairman of Better Bankside and Head of Partnerships at Tate Modern, says:

“With MERGE now in its third year it is becoming an essential part of London’s festivals. Its unique blend of artists, businesses and local communities working in the many and varied urban environments of Bankside and Borough; we think create something really special.”

MERGE is developed by Better Bankside and Illuminate Productions, and is supported by Tate Modern, Arts Council England, Ibstock Brick, SWIFT Construction Group LTD, MACE and the Dennis Rosen Trust.

Full Listings: Available at mergefestival.co.uk