LONDON, ENGLAND.- During the month of May, London’s museums and galleries will host Lates, the first ever city-wide season of late night openings, with special exhibits, film screenings, music, poetry, club nights and a chance to see some of London’s great masterpieces after dark. Highlights include a recreation of a Surrealist Ball at the V&A, an all night screening of Andy Warhol’s Sleep at Tate Modern, a Tokyo late night lounge at the ICA, a Fashionista Friday at the National Portrait Gallery and the opening of galleries all over the East End organised by the Whitechapel.

Lates is presented by Barbican Art Gallery, British Museum, The Hayward, Institute of Contemporary Art, Museum of London, Museum in Docklands, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Tate Britain, Tate Modern, V&A and Whitechapel, in partnership with the Mayor of London, demonstrating the vitality of London’s museums and galleries in the landscape of London’s cultural life. Lates coincides with the national Museums and Galleries Month season in May, and Night of the Museum on Saturday 19 May, featuring late-night events at hundreds of venues around the country.

The Lates programme includes:

First Thursdays
From Thursday 3 May
The Whitechapel and Parasol Unit will join forces with some of the 160 galleries in East London, Europe’s largest cultural quarter, to offer a programme of curated tours, free previews and special events for art lovers in the evenings on the first Thursday of each month starting on 3 May. This is a joint initiative with Arts Council England, London.

Museum of London/Hot in the City
Thursday 3 May (until 9pm)
The Museum of London and Museum in Docklands will open late for the first time on 3 May. Visitors will be able to explore Samuel Pepys’ London in the new London's Burning exhibition, with guided tours and an eyewitness account of the Great Fire from Pepys, followed by live performances from the Keith Waithe World Music Quartet in the bar.
Free admission

Museum in Docklands/Dancing by the Docks
Thursday 3 May (until 9pm)
As well as the chance to discover the historic Docklands on a guided tour around the galleries, visitors can view the Journey to the New World exhibition and watch performances of live Brazilian Samba and dancing from Viramundo at the bar. The music will continue with DJ Tony Sugarray at the museum’s bar/restaurant 1802 next door, which will open late until 11pm.
Free admission from 4.30pm

Late Britain/Late at Tate Britain
Friday 4 May (until 10pm)
A late night viewing of the collection, accompanied by music from the London Laptop Orchestra and others with film selected by Rosalind Nashashibi, and discussions by artists and commentators including Richard Wentworth, Bill Fontana, Rasheed Araeen, Louise Wilson, Jon Snow and Zenib Sedira on works in the new contemporary art displays.
Free admission

British Museum/Who do they think we are?
6.30pm, Thursday 10 May
How do cutting edge artists, writers and musicians help to define us? A panel will lead the debate to discuss whether the contemporary arts give the population an understanding of its own identity. Speakers include Deborah Swallow (Director, Courtauld Institute of Art), Ralph Rugoff (Director, Hayward Gallery) and Munira Mirza, (writer and broadcaster on issues related to multiculturalism and cultural identity). Chaired by Bonnie Greer (playwright and critic).
Admission £5, concessions £3

ICA/Late Night ‘Speak Easy’ on Hedonism
10pm, Friday 11 May
Is hedonism an embarrassing relic from ‘60s ideals of rock ‘n’ roll living or is it still possible to do it in style? Special guests from across a broad cultural spectrum will lead lively discussion on whether we’ve exhausted youth culture or whether it is still possible to be alternative, avant-garde or underground today. Special performance from The Whoopee Club. Speakers include: Simon Munnery, Sebastian Horsley, Travis Elborough, Alexander Mayor, Sam Roddick and Simon Clark.
Admission £10, £9, £8

British Museum/Inanna: A Live Performance
7.30pm, Saturday 12 May
A special one-off performance based on the story of the Mesopotamian goddess Inanna, her adolescence, courtship, marriage, descent into the underworld and rebirth. With Diane Wolkstein, storyteller and co-author of Inanna Queen of Heaven and Earth, and musician Geoffrey Gordon.
Admission £5, concessions £3 (not appropriate for children under 13)

The Hayward/Antony Gormley at night
Friday 18 May/Saturday 19 May (until 10pm)
The Hayward launches Friday and Saturday night viewings with Antony Gormley’s first major London show, Blind Light, featuring a series of brand new monumental works specially conceived for The Hayward’s distinctive spaces and Event Horizon, sculptural casts of the artist’s body spanning from the Southbank and punctuating the city skyline, with performances from DJs and a bar on the Hayward Terrace overlooking the river.
Admission £8, concessions £5

National Portrait Gallery/Face of Fashion Late
Friday 18 May (until 11pm)
A special late night opening of the Face of Fashion exhibition, featuring Pukka Poetry, a reading by contemporary Indian poets, live jazz in the Main Hall from the Andy Davies Quartet, and two special themed gallery tours – Love, Sex, and Metaphor: A Queer Gaze and Creatures of the Night.
Free admission to gallery
Exhibition admission £8, concessions £7 & £6
Poetry admission £5, concessions £3

National Gallery/Renoir Landscapes 1865-1883
Saturday 19 May (until 11pm)
A special night-time viewing of the spectacular Renoir show, examining the first two decades of Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s career bringing together some 70 landscapes, with free live ‘cool jazz’ featuring the Michael Winawer Guitar duo and Oliver Benson Jazz trio, and late night opening of the National Café and gallery shops.
Admission £12, concessions £11, £6, under 12s free

Whitechapel/T-Shirts and Jeans Present ‘Sounds Like’
7pm, Thursday 24 May
The dynamic T-Shirts and Jeans team bring their unique night of poetry, comedy, music, live art and banana bread back to the Whitechapel. Visitors will be able to take the experience home with them as the Whitechapel resident artist designs exclusive one off t-shirts on the night to be raffled off. Hosted by Yemisi Blake and Priscilla Sim.
Free admission

National Portrait Gallery/ Fashionista Friday
Friday 25 May (until 11pm)
Fashionistas and fashion victims will unite for drinks at the bar and some fabulous fashion-themed surprises including music and guest DJs. Special late night opening until 11pm and a last chance to see the Face of Fashion exhibition, which closes on 28 May.
Free admission to gallery
Exhibition admission £8, concessions £7 & £6

V&A/Surrealist Ball
Friday 25 May (until 10pm)
To celebrate the Surreal Things exhibition, the V&A will host a contemporary take on the legendary balls thrown by the Surrealists. With live performances including Lady G Luck’s under-water style shrimp dance and Marisa Carnesky’s levitation piece, and 1920’s music played on wind-up gramophones and DJ sets using music by the Surrealists themselves.
Free admission, some events may be ticketed

ICA/Futureworld City: Tokyo Late Night Lounge
Friday 25 May (until 1am)
An evening hosted by broadcaster, DJ Nick Luscombe with special guests including DJ and Producer Koichi Sakai and visuals by animators and product designers, Devil Robots. There will be a mini ‘night market’ showcasing Tokyo trends in fashion, the unique Dog Fashion Show, Japanese tea + cakes, Japanese inspired designs by lovelylovely, and manga comics.
Admission £15