City of Toronto Message

As the fifth edition of Toronto's Scotiabank Nuit Blanche approaches, it's clear that what began as a new concept for a free, all-night 'contemporary art thing', has become one of the most important and anticipated contemporary art events in Canada.

It all began at dusk on a rainy September evening in 2006, when the first Scotiabank Nuit Blanche was unleashed on an unsuspecting city. Since then, the event has been a platform for more than 600 official art installations by nearly 2,000 artists, representing more than 15 countries worldwide, and resulting in a total of $38 million in economic gain for our city — impressive statistics for a free event lasting only 12 short hours.

This five-year milestone offers a great opportunity to not only look back and celebrate the successes of the first four years, but also look forward — to critically engage in opportunities for growth and further celebrate Toronto's incredibly diverse and dynamic artistic community.

I'm especially excited about new programs this year that extend the event beyond one night. I encourage everyone to visit the retrospective exhibition at Scotia Plaza, featuring photos, videos and installations from the past four years. We are also pleased to offer a series of five engaging panel discussions at five important cultural venues that shed a deeper light on the inner workings of the event and provide an opportunity for the community to help shape the direction of Scotiabank Nuit Blanche for years to come.

Join me for Toronto's fifth annual sleepless night on October 2, 2010, and become a part of this artistic legacy that celebrates contemporary art and creativity in Toronto and beyond.