The theme for the upcoming Nuit Blanche Ottawa is officially unveiled :“ La vie est belle /Life is Beautiful”. Artists working in any discipline from Ottawa and beyond will be able to propose new, exciting projects related to the theme through our Open Call for Submissions, which is launched publicly today.

In the words of Stefan St-Laurent, Guest Curator for this first edition, the event will be “a passionate manifestation of our collective hopes and dreams, and will bring together diverse artists who will interpret in their own unique ways, the beauty and dignity of human life. It will definitely be a moving and uplifting experience for everyone involved!” In this time of political and social uncertainties, Nuit Blanche Ottawa calls upon artists to present life-affirming works that celebrate the unbreakable human spirit.

Taking place on September 22, 2012 in the Market and Hintonburg areas, Nuit Blanche Ottawa will be collaborating with over 30 participating galleries, museums, festivals, organizations and embassies; and is poised to become the largest collective art event in Ottawa’s history. At this all-nighter of indoor and outdoor events, performances and exhibitions, we intend to show the world how different, lively and unique our art scene can be!

The Guest Curator, Stefan St-Laurent, alongside Curators Lainie Towell, Street Art and Megan Smith, Visual Art, will be selecting over 100 artists and performers to participate in this colossal, multidisciplinary event. The curatorial team will also commission five or more local and international artists to present larger-scale installations and performances throughout the evening.

We especially encourage emerging and established artists from the Ottawa region to submit projects, as we want this first edition of Nuit Blanche Ottawa to spotlight the incredible breadth of talent emanating from our diverse and vibrant cultural communities. The deadline for artists and collectives to submit proposals is April 2, 2012. A copy of the Call to Artists is attached.

Life will indeed be beautiful next September 22 as Ottawa hosts its first official Nuit Blanche!

Nuit Blanche Ottawa is organized by BRAVO-Est, and funded in part by the Ontario Trillium Foundation. For more information, or to become involved, please consult our website www.nuitblancheottawa.ca