Bristol’s year as European Green Capital gets underway this weekend with an opening ceremony and gala dinner for visiting dignitaries this evening and a spectacular high-wire act tomorrow as the first public event.
Organisers hope the combination of the civic ceremony with the ‘fun’ element of the tightrope walk between two of the city’s iconic bonded warehouses will strengthen Bristol’s position on the international map as its green capital year gets underway.
The 50 VIPS attending today’s official events include European Commission director-general for the environment Karl Falkenberg, representatives of last year’s green capital Copenhagen and next year’s, Ljubljana in Slovenia, and civic leaders from other UK core cities. 
The dignitaries will tour the city tomorrow to see for themselves initiatives Bristol has already made to make it a green, smart and connected city. The tour will be followed by lunch, which will include a talk by local sustainable food experts.
They will then join the public opening event, which will be led by Bristol-based Cirque Bijou.
Called ‘Bridging the Gap’, it will feature world-famous tight wire artist Jade Kindar-Martin cycling along a 120metre long high wire, set between the landmark A and B Bond buildings in Hotwells.
To add to the spectacle, Hollywood stuntwoman Karine Mauffrey will perform a dramatic aerial trapeze routine suspended beneath husband Jade’s bicycle as the artists undertake the daring stunt, 25 metres above the ground.
The spectacle will open with a light show using the large warehouse buildings as a canvas and projecting the year’s core image – a large green ‘O’ – onto them, accompanied by a musical score specially composed by Dom Coyote. Around 50 performers will take part in the event – almost all of them from Bristol.
As part of winning the European Green Capital award, cities agree to hold an opening ceremony to mark the beginning of the year. But Bristol – with ambitions to be viewed as ‘fun’ city – wanted to do more than host the traditional civic dinner.
Set against the backdrop of the city, ‘Bridging the Gap’ will symbolise the difference between Bristol’s green intentions and actions – the bridge that its citizens will need to cross to start living more sustainably. The spectacle is intended to showcase Bristol’s unique spirit and personality, and provide an opportunity for the general public to get involved.
The free outdoor event, which is open to the public, takes place at 7pm tomorrow.
The artists’ high-wire act will start at A Bond warehouse on Smeaton Road in Hotwells, finishing at the B Bond warehouse, also known as the CREATE centre.
Mayor of Bristol George Ferguson will give the keynote address at today’s official opening event, looking at what makes Bristol a smart, green, open, connected and inclusive city and sharing the Bristol 2015 European Green Capital Programme.
