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Image credit
Image courtesy of Poetry Film Productions
The Midnight Run and Fuel present
5.45pm - Midnight
25 and 26 March
This special Midnight Run will take you on an adventure to celebrate the nocturnal life of the city of Leicester as part of the Liberty UK Festival 2022. The route will journey past iconic sites as well as lesser-known nooks and crannies of the city as we celebrate a return to cultural activity.
Come ready to explore, play and create!
The Run will be facilitated by poet and Midnight Run artist Andy Craven-Griffiths, who will be joined by 3 local Leicester-based artists and 3 European guest artists - together they will collaborate to provide a unique cultural experience for their Runners. Creative activities will span poetry, painting, movement and more!
TICKETS £3
What is The Leicester Midnight Run?
The Leicester Midnight Run is an arts-filled, walking, night-time cultural journey through urban spaces. It gathers participants and local artists together to explore, play and create, whilst the rest of the city sleeps. Each Run sees the creation of a small, mobile, night-time creative community made up of local artists and strangers, who come together for one night only to travel across a town or city, animating the public realm as they go.
Participants are encouraged to talk, walk, share, play and connect with each other and engage with local artists through taking part in bespoke, cross-artform workshops in found locations en route.
The Run directly counteracts the fast pace of urban life and the challenges we associate with it – such as loneliness, the loss of local identities and the erosion of communities because of the gentrification or commercialisation of an area – through a return to simplicity: Bringing people together, to entertain without entertainment, to trust in community and conversation, to rediscover our essential creative selves. It is a grassroots movement, originally conceived as a way to take back the streets for art and collaboration, to discover new artists and new areas in which to experience art, with the town or city as the backdrop.
"Not all of those who wander are lost." - J.R.R. Tolkien
The Midnight Run (MNR) was established by poet and playwright Inua Ellams in 2005 and is now one of the leading independent participatory arts models in the UK. Here are some of the latest statistics:
Years
16
Countries
7
Events
53
Artists
130
Participants
1400
TICKETS £3
F.A.Q's
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What are the timings of The Leicester Midnight Run?
The Run will start at 6.00pm and finish at midnight. Participants are required to arrive 15 minutes before the Run begins - at 5.45pm. Staying for the full duration of the Run is required to get the most out of the experience and interact effectively with the rest of the group. There will be plenty of opportunities for rest and breaks along the way.
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What do I need to bring?
Please come dressed for the weather, with comfortable footwear for walking and money to buy snacks and a meal during the night. Details of any other item you need will be communicated to ticket holders before the event.
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What route will The Leicester Midnight Run take?
The Leicester Midnight Run route has been carefully planned by our team and will cover iconic and alternative outdoor spaces. Details will be revealed as you go, so you can enjoy a feeling of exploration and adventure.
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Where does the route begin?
The starting point of the Run will be emailed to ticketholders the day before the event.
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Is there an age restriction for MNR?
The minimum age for participating in The Midnight Run is 16+. Anyone under 18 should be accompanied by an adult. There is no upper age limit, however attendees need to be aware of being on foot all evening or attend with someone to assist with any accessibility issues they have. Please contact access@artreach.biz to discuss any access requirements.
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What will happen on the MNR?
The Run will last 6 hours which will feature 3 artist-led workshops. The Run will commence at 6.00pm and you will be travelling in a group of up to 35 participants. The Runners are led by a MNR Facilitator on foot through a route exploring an urban area. On the journey, the Runners take part in cross-artform workshops, curated by local artists. Past Runners have enjoyed activities from life-drawing to choral singing and tai chi to puppetry, all whilst exploring the city as a group. Each MNR is bespoke, built on the idea that what is experienced on the night is specific and true to the locality.
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Is there any running involved?
No! The Run will be walked at a comfortable pace, dictated by the group. There may be some activities and games that involve light physical activity.
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Is there a difference between the 2 Runs?
No, the same Run will take place on two different nights. The route, the artists and the activities will be the same on each.
Follow The Midnight Run
Follow Fuel
Follow Andy Craven-Griffiths
AUDIENCE FEEDBACK
"From beginning to end, it was really resonant. I’m reflecting on aspects of my life, my creativity, the things that are joyful and different. The Run tapped into my curiosity, love of walking and community.” - MNR Runner
"When people finish MNR, they feel reconnected with their city. They see the potential of architecture and the built environment... and how they can exploit that for their own creative endeavour." - Kit Caless, MNR Facilitator
"It made me feel at home in my own city again, after so long of feeling like I no longer belonged there." - MNR Runner
“I liked the combination of participating in art while discovering a city and a chance to chat and meet new people” - MNR Runner
“Perfect experience for newcomers to London but I've lived here most of my life and still discovered parts of the city I'd never been to. The hosts were friendly and informal, and the group was open and engaged. I came to the evening quite tired and a bit dubious but left on a genuine high.” - MNR Runner
Commissioned by ArtReach, for Liberty EU at Liberty UK Festival.
Co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.
