Illuminating Hadrian's Wall - a Line of Light From Coast to Coast

HEXHAM, England, November 23 - Plans have been unveiled to create a spectacular line of light
from coast to coast, along the length of Hadrian's Wall, next year.

This once in a lifetime event will take place on Saturday 13th
March 2010 and will follow the route of the 84 mile long Hadrian's Wall Path
National Trail.

There will be around 500 individual points of light, placed at
250 metre intervals. The first one will be illuminated at Wallsend in the
North East, with the line of light then making its way along the Wall to
Bowness-on-Solway in Cumbria over the following hour.

Illuminating Hadrian's Wall is an ambitious project led by
Hadrian's Wall Heritage Ltd, which forms part of the world-class programme of
festivals and events developed by culture10 in the North East of England and
the Lakes Alive programme in Cumbria presented by Kendal Arts International
and Manchester International Arts. Illuminating Hadrian's Wall is also a
flagship event of British Tourism Week 2010.

Linda Tuttiett, the Chief Executive of Hadrian's Wall Heritage
Ltd, says: "In partnership with local people, we wanted to do something
really quite extraordinary to bring to life Britain's longest and greatest
piece of heritage and celebrate the landscape of Hadrian's Wall Country. What
could be more spectacular than a line of light that will stretch from coast
to coast illuminating this stunning World Heritage Site?"

The Romans built fortlets, known as mile castles, along the
Wall at intervals of one Roman mile. Between each mile castle, and spaced one
third of a Roman mile apart, were a series of turrets. The plan is to create
a point of light where all the mile fortlets and turrets were located, with
an additional point of light between each of them.

The event is being produced by John Farquhar-Smith, who was
the technical director for the 8-minute 'handover ceremony' for London 2012
at the closing of the Beijing 2008 Olympics. His experience also includes
organising a football match in winter 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle
and the Royal Gala Opening of St Pancras International by the Queen.

He says: "I'm delighted to be directing this extraordinary
event. It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity to create a line of
light stretching from one side of England to the other."

"Our aim is to capture the public's imagination with an event
that will show the immense scale and beauty of Hadrian's Wall and the
countryside, villages, towns and cities that it runs through. It will be a
celebration of a truly iconic piece of World heritage."

A camera crew will film the line of light as it makes its way
from coast to coast from a helicopter and the pictures will be beamed to
giant screens as part of two major events in the north east and at Carlisle
to celebrate the illumination of Hadrian's Wall. There will also be a number
of stewarded points along the Wall where people will be able to view the line
of light.

Stella Hall, Creative Director of culture10 said, "We are
delighted to celebrate the lighting of the iconic Hadrian's Wall, and hope
that audiences will join us on the evening of 13th March at the events in
Carlisle and Wallsend where we can share in this once in a lifetime
experience. "

"This festival of landscape and light is undoubtedly a
highlight in our Landscape and Heritage programme for 2009/10, and is the
culmination of months of hard work by all our partners, participants and the
talented artists who have contributed so innovatively to the shaping of the
events."

"We would especially like to thank our Cumbrian partners from
the Lakes Alive programme, who have enabled us to cross the Wall's invisible
boundaries between the North East and North West, linking audiences and
allowing the line of light vision to be fulfilled."

Julie Tait, director of Lakes Alive, says: "Lakes Alive is
delighted to be creating and directing a special event in Carlisle to welcome
the line of light to Cumbria which, we hope, will enable local people and
visitors to truly feel part of this unique event."

"Illuminating Hadrian's Wall is an important and exciting part
of our four-year programme building up to London 2012, which is all about
bringing to life the rich and spectacular landscapes and heritage of Cumbria
through inspiring world-class outdoor arts events. We feel privileged to be
part of this celebration of one of the UK's few globally-significant
landmarks. This has been made possible through a dynamic North of England
partnership with Hadrian's Wall Heritage Ltd and the exceptional culture10
programme in the North East."

Hadrian's Wall formed the Roman frontier across the north of
England for almost 300 years. It was built in AD122 by the Roman army on the
orders of the Emperor Hadrian. In 1987 it was added to the list of UNESCO
World Heritage Sites, and in 2005 became part of the Frontiers of the Roman
Empire World Heritage Site. Today it attracts visitors from all over the
world.

The Hadrian's Wall National Path closely follows the original
line of Hadrian's Wall. It includes a variety of landscapes such as the
vibrant cities of Newcastle upon Tyne and Carlisle, and runs through some of
the most beautiful parts of the country, from rolling fields to rugged
moorland. Some of the highlights are a riverside route in Tyneside, beautiful
countryside in Northumberland National Park, the richer pastures of Cumbria
and finally the open salt marsh of the Solway Estuary.

For further information about Illuminating Hadrian's Wall
visit www.illuminatinghadrianswall.com, become a fan of Illuminating
Hadrian's Wall on facebook or follow @EmperorHadrian on Twitter.

For more information about Hadrian's Wall Country visit
www.hadrians-wall.org.

British Tourism Week 2010 takes place from 15th-21st March and
will include a programme of events around the country.

A CGI artist's impression of Illuminating Hadrian's Wall is
available.

Notes to Editors

1. Hadrian's Wall Heritage Ltd was set up in May 2006 in
partnership with One NorthEast (One), the Northwest Regional Development
Agency (NWDA), Natural England and English Heritage.

2. Hadrian's Wall Heritage works in partnership with a number
of organisations. It brings together business and conservation, visitors and
local communities in a uniquely focused way, with the overall aim of:

    - Creating jobs and enhancing the local economy
    - Attracting more visitors who will stay longer and spend more in
      the area
    - Creating a vibrant and sustainable visitor economy
    - Finding better ways to interpret and protect an internationally
      recognised monument
    - Making Hadrian's Wall a truly world-class destination

3. Illuminating Hadrian's Wall forms part of North East
England's world-class programme of festivals and events, managed by
culture10. culture10 is an annual curated programme of exceptional cultural
events and festivals across NewcastleGateshead and North East England.
Established in 2004, it is managed by the culture10 team, funded by Newcastle
City Council, Gateshead Council, One North East, Northern Rock Foundation and
Arts Council England, North East, working in partnership with
NewcastleGateshead Initiative. The Landscape and Heritage theme for 2009/10's
programme is inspired by major regional events including the opening of Great
North Museum and Hadrian's Wall celebrations. Curated by culture10, the
programme supports a range of projects which raise the profile of North East
England's natural and built assets, exploring the effect of landscape and
heritage on the development of the region as well as the impact of people
today on our landscape and heritage. For further details see
www.NewcastleGateshead.com

4. The event is partnered by Lakes Alive, one of three annual
programmes commissioned for WE PLAY, the North West cultural legacy programme
for the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. WE PLAY is funded by Legacy
Trust UK, an independent charity set up to help build a lasting cultural and
sporting legacy from the 2012 Olympic Games. The project is led by the Arts
Council England Northwest on behalf of a new regional partnership. Lakes
Alive is sponsored by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and
has also received funding from Arts Council England and the Northern Rock
Foundation. The event in Carlisle as part of Illuminating Hadrian's Wall is
also supported by Carlisle Renaissance.

5. Illuminating Hadrian's Wall is also a flagship event of
British Tourism Week 2010.

British Tourism Week (15-21 March 2010) aims to demonstrate the
critical value of tourism to the economy of the United Kingdom.
www.britishtourismweek.com

    Through a week of events throughout the UK it will:
    - Increase awareness of the success and importance of the tourism
      industry. Britain's fifth biggest industry, worth GBP114 billion pa and
      which employs 2.65million people.
       - Raise quality standards.
       - Promote training and professionalism.
       - Improve the international competitiveness of the UK tourism
         industry.
    - Support the preparations for hosting the London 2012 Olympic and
      Paralympic Games.

British Tourism Week culminates with the Best of Britain and Ireland
travel trade forum and consumer show at London's Olympia from 17-20
March.

www.britainandirelandevent.co.uk

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales is the Patron of British Tourism
Week.

British Tourism Week is organised by VisitBritain with the support of
The Tourism Society, and representation from the following organisations on
the Executive Council: The Tourism Alliance; Wales Tourism Alliance; Scottish
Tourism Forum; VisitEngland; VisitScotland; Visit Wales; Visit London; the
English Regions; British Hospitality Association; ABTA the Travel
Association; UKinbound; Local Government Association; Association of Leading
Visitor Attractions; Travelodge; Hoseasons; Holiday Cottages Group; British
Beer & Pub Association; Coach Tourism Council; Group Travel Organisers
Association; Virgin Trains; and Best of Britain & Ireland Events.

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