Major photographic exhibition signals the start of the York Festival Ideas
The gala opening night of a major exhibition of the work of renowned Irish photographer, John Minihan, provides a spectacular start to the York Festival of Ideas on 16th June in the Ron Cooke Hub at the University of York’s Heslington East campus.
Tickets are still available for the evening which begins at 6pm with a talk by John Minihan in which he will discuss his career, his relationship with Samuel Beckett, and the iconic imagery featured in the exhibition. The evening is expected to finish at about 8.30pm.
York is an incredibly diverse city, rich in heritage, discovery and curiosity - a city where ideas spring to life and flourish
Following John Minihan’s talk, guests will have the chance to see for themselves the magical transformation of the Ron Cooke Hub. York-based Lindum Turf Ltd, a specialist turf suppliers, has provided a unique 150 square metre ‘Island of Green’ in the centre of the Hub atrium. The Island is being created using EventTurf, a soil-less grass grown on a felt base which can be rolled out like a carpet. Guests will have the chance to view the photographic exhibition, including images of major Beckett performances with distinguished actors such as Billie Whitelaw and Michael Gambon. A digital art installation will play in the Hub’s unique 360 surround sound and vision centre. Guests will then have the chance to take off their shoes, reflect on what they have seen during the exhibition, and enjoy the soothing effect that grass has on our senses!
The event is sponsored by Building Design Partnership (BDP), the architects responsible for the construction of the Heslington East and Lindum Turf Ltd. Additional support has been provided by Bettys and Taylors.
The York Festival of Ideas is led by the University of York, in collaboration with a range of city partners including York Museums Trust, York Theatre Royal, the University of York St John, Visit York and the National Early Music Centre.
Professor Jane Moody, one of the festival organisers and Director of the University’s Humanities Research Centre said, “The creation of a Festival of Ideas is a vibrant and creative collective response to the challenge of sustaining the arts in a period of recession and also demonstrates the fundamental and exciting contribution the arts and humanities make to social and cultural development and innovation in Britain.
“This Festival celebrates ideas as both the lifeblood of a healthy society and as an engine for the creativity which is crucial for building a successful knowledge economy. York is an incredibly diverse city, rich in heritage, discovery and an overriding sense of curiosity—in short a city where ideas spring to life and flourish.
“Where better then to bring together a range of world-class speakers, exhibitions, performances and artistic endeavour?”
Further information
Visit www.yorkfestivalofideas.com for further information about the exhibition and other York Festival of Ideas events.
Photographs by John Minihan runs until 26 June. All the photographs in the exhibition are available for purchase during the exhibition period. Each framed photograph will be stamped and signed by John Minihan, and the exhibition-standard print produced from an original negative by Exhibit A Studios Dublin.