The Home of Guinness announced a five week festive experience curated by the award-winning designer Annie Atkins.
19.11.21
This Christmas, the Home of Guinness has announced an exciting five-week Christmas experience, Winterfest, running 27th November to January 3rd. Winterfest will see the Guinness Storehouse transform into an immersive festive spectacular, under the creative direction of the inaugural lead curator – Dublin-based designer Annie Atkins.
Annie Atkins is the graphic designer behind visually stunning films including Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel, The French Dispatch and Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies. For Winterfest 2021, Annie’s brings her unique style from her Dublin studio to the Guinness Storehouse, creating an immersive winter wonderland that promises to be a feast for the eyes.
The must-see curation, inspired by iconic advertising retrieved from the Guinness archive, is brought to life across all seven floors of the Guinness Storehouse with bespoke, intricate décor and twinkling lights, while the famous Guinness gates will be adorned with snowy wreaths for a picture-perfect backdrop for all Winterfest visitors.
The showstopping pièce de résistance is a 15-metre modular tree installation in the Guinness Storehouse atrium comprising multiple Christmas trees embellished with beautiful graphics designed by Annie and Guinness-inspired black and gold decorations.
Speaking on the partnership, guest curator Annie Atkins said, “Collaborating with the Guinness Storehouse has been such a treat, as I’ve been a lifelong fan of their iconic branding — they have such a rich design history and their archive was bursting with inspiration. It’s been especially fun designing for such a magical time of year, and I hope that the visitors enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it.”
Eibhlin Colgan, Guinness Archivist, added: “The Guinness archive collects and preserves records, artefacts and artwork relating to Guinness since its foundation in 1759. Guinness has such a rich visual history, it was a pleasure to take Annie through the heritage of our advertising, imagery and typography and to see how this translated into her interpretation of Christmas at the Guinness Storehouse.”
Throughout Winterfest, the Home of Guinness will host a line-up of live musical performances for visitors to enjoy throughout the building, including musical performances from the likes of DJ Aonair, A&S Productions, D. Cullen & Sinead McConville, DJ Pique, R3D (DJ), The Fundamentals, The Main Event, Pio Hartnett, Ian Blake, DJ Dilly (aka Wastefellow) and The Tiny Quartet. Visitors will also be transported to the scene of the much-loved Guinness Christmas ad, with the soundtrack to the ad performed by Glasshouse Orchestra, a music ensemble and arts organisation based in Dublin on Saturday, November 27th.
What’s more, the Guinness Storehouse is creating a streetscape of light displays from Crane Street to the Guinness Storehouse, with a sensational focal point at the iconic Guinness Gate on Crane Street. The projection above the gate will be visible after sunset, creating an impactful visual experience for all this Christmas.
And while all tickets to the Guinness Storehouse include a pint of the Black Stuff, the Home of Guinness will be serving up some festive food specials throughout Winterfest including a traditional Christmas feast with all the trimmings at 1837 Bar and Brasserie. Bookings available online here. For something new for the season, you can indulge in a Baileys hot chocolate or a festive mulled Guinness, or try the experimental Plum Pudding Porter brew, available at the recently extended Gravity bar.
Catherine Toolan, Managing Director at the Guinness Storehouse, commented: “We are so excited to host the first ever Winterfest at the Home of Guinness. Each floor will look spectacular with Christmas décor curated by Annie Atkins, but we also have entertainment, festive food and of course great pints of Guinness – so there really is no better place to enjoy a Christmas outing with friends and family! Dublin is a great place to visit over the festive period, and we are delighted to add Winterfest to the wider ‘Winter in Dublin’ programme. We can’t wait to welcome visitors and our local community in to see our Christmas showcase.”
Winterfest at the Guinness Storehouse will run from Saturday 27th November 2021 – Sunday, 2nd January 2022, open daily from 10am. Visitors are recommended to book ahead as capacity remains limited.
To book your visit, click https://www.guinness-storehouse.com/en/winter-fest
