Nuit Blanche Ottawa+Gatineau: HYPE & FRÉNÉSIE

WHO ARE WE?Nuit Blanche Ottawa + Gatineau is a temporary space for re-imagining the cityscape as a massive urban playground, while celebrating and investing in cultural and economic growth within the region. The event, now in its fourth year, is built through partnerships and community involvement. Importantly, Nuit Blanche asks us to momentarily expand our concept of the concrete place and social space of the urban environment, and it facilitates creative interventions that make us dream bigger, reach further and understand our culture in new ways. THEME This year’s theme is HYPE & FRÉNÉSIE! We asked the artists, hosts and partners to tap into the bold and creative behaviour of the night-time and share that citizenship. They will test what can be achieved within the time-based landscape of the night. They will take you on metaphorical journeys by creatively and collectively influencing peaks in the night and by daring you to ride the HYPE cycle into the morning. This exhibition incorporates performance, new media interactive projects, live-music, graffiti artists, video installations and projections, and many more interdisciplinary art practices. EVEN MORE HIGHLIGHTS This is a free event with over 70 projects across Gatineau, ByWard Market, Downtown Rideau, as well as we are thrilled to introduce MARVEST, a free live-music program presented in The Glebe by CityFolk Festival. A complimentary accessible shuttle service is in operation between the main zones, and we are running a new double-decker shuttle this year courtesy of OC Transpo and the Office of Councillor Mathieu Fleury. We also provide curated mobility-friendly tours supported by the Community Foundation of Ottawa and Galerie SAW Gallery. Our Roaming projects circulate between the zones and please make sure to check out our fantastic Outer Place sites, which are often beyond our shuttle routes, but definite hits, including Orange Art Gallery, Ottawa Burlesque Festival, Blink Gallery, PDA Projects. The Ottawa International Film Festival will be based at Ottawa City Hall and Parliament Hill is on board this year with their new light show ‘Northern Lights’. Our curated art program is presented in collaboration with AOE Arts Council, make sure you also check out their Human Library on George. The City of Gatineau is presenting a fantastic program on Laval street featuring live folk music and a rap battle as well at graffiti artists on site, then grab the shuttle over to AxeNe07, one of our region’s leading art galleries, to see a number of hosted projects on site. WHAT YOU'LL SEE We are delighted to draw your attention to our NBOG - Tontine Award winning artist, Lori Victor, who is based at The Rectory Art House. Please also take in the ByWard Market BIA project BEX Tulip Park(ing), Adam Douglas’ ‘SPLAT!’ supported by Wallack’s Arts Supplies and all the projects on George and William enabled by the Ontario Arts Council, City of Ottawa and the ByWard Market BIA. Also in the Market, check out Galerie St-Laurent+Hill with Jonathan Hobin, McMillan with artist Andrew O’Malley, the Children’s zone by ArtEast, the Museum of Science & Technology and Artengine, and see the fashion show hosted by RentFrockRepeat. The Ottawa School of Art, Arts Court, The Rectory and Saint Brigid’s are meccas of fun this year so plan your schedule to take all these sites in, including crowd favourites by Jackpine, Ottawa Comic Jam, PLAY Poland Film Festival, Monster Printmaking, SAW Video Media Art Centre, IFCO, ODD, an obstacle course at the OAG, a Techno Sauna at SAW Gallery (clothing optional after 9pm!!!), the Ottawa International Animation Festival and more. COLLABORATIONS This year in collaboration with Marvest - CityFolk Festival and the Ottawa International Animation Festival we are producing a MEGA CULTURE WEEK in the region. On Saturday, September 19th please enjoy free access to a selection of Canada’s and the world’s most dynamic art projects, music and animation. Megan L. Smith – Creative Director, Nuit Blanche Ottawa+Gatineau. Nuit Blanche Ottawa+Gatineau is produced by 8389136 Canada Foundation. We value cultural innovation, inclusivity, authenticity, partnerships, flexibility, motivation and passion. Our vision is to drive cultural innovation in Canada.