On Saturday, October 4th, Scotiabank Nuit Blanche kicks off its ninth year of the free, all-night celebration of contemporary art in Toronto. From sunset to sunrise, Toronto neighbourhoods will flood with more than a million attendees. This year, along with the exhibition at Nathan Phillips Square, Scotiabank Nuit Blanche is expanding into three new neighbourhoods. Curated exhibits and independent projects can be found in Chinatown/Spadina Ave & Queen West, Fort York, and Roundhouse Park/Bremner Boulevard.

Global Rainbow exhibition — *Global Rainbow* exhibition

Happening again this year is "Nuit Talks", a series of themed talks which provide an environment for meaningful discussion on the practice and projects of this year's artists and curators. Featured in this year's "Nuit Talks" are artists Máximo González and Ivan Buenader, a discussion on the costs and benefits of art festivals; a look at each of this year's curators' vision, process, projects and purpose; a special preview presentation in partnership with the AGO's First Thursdays; and an examination of the role anxiety plays in our lives, reflected through artists' practice. A full list of events, speakers, locations and times is available here.

Dress Rehearsal, Tor Lukasik-Foss — *Dress Rehearsal*, Tor Lukasik-Foss

HIGHLIGHTS

With more than 120 projects created by almost 400 local and international artists, it's hard to decide where to go first! Here are some installations below that you may want to check out from each exhibit:

· The Possibility of Everything, curated by Dominique Fontaine, features 12 projects in Chinatown and on Queen West. This includes Yvette Mattern's Global Rainbow, which simulates a natural rainbow arc with a viewing capacity of up to 60 km, seen from every exhibition area.
· Night Circus, curated by Denise Markonish, features 10 projects located in and around Roundhouse Park along Bremner Boulevard. A must see is HOLOSCENES. This performance installation features an aquarium-like sculpture, viewable from 360 degrees containing a single performer. Over the 12 hours, the performers rotate—each doing some sort of everyday activity—and the sculpture fills with water and drains by a programmable hydraulic system.

Icebreaker, Diane Landry — *Icebreaker*, Diane Landry

· Before Day Break, curated by Magda Gonzalez-Mora, features 12 projects located around the historic Fort York. If you're looking to take the kids with you, check out Yoan Capote's Open Mind. This installation is a brain-shaped labyrinth you can walk through, located at Canoe Landing Park.
· Performance Anxiety, curated by Heather Pesanti, offers an exclusive performance-based exhibition; a first for Scotiabank Nuit Blanche, that performance is located at Toronto City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square. For a chorale treat, visit City Hall to see Split Chorale for Viljo Revell from Kathryn Andrews and Scott Benzel. Video montages projected in the interior of City Hall will be supported by a more than 100 male choristers.

Open Mind, Yoan Capote — *Open Mind*, Yoan Capote

· More than 70 community-produced projects are part of this year's Independent Projects of Scotiabank Nuit Blanche. Created by cultural and educational institutions, neighborhoods and individual artists, the independent projects showcase Toronto's diverse arts community.
· Inspired Night: presented by Scotiabank is an art installation that tells the story of Scotiabank Nuit Blanche through a live, immersive experience that allows attendees to become part of the art. Tagged pictures will be streamed in real time via #snbTO on Twitter and Instagram. This compilation of images will be projected throughout the night within the 100-foot (30-metre) walkway of screens at 130 Spadina Ave.

Full program details are available here.

EXTENDED PROJECTS IN 2014

Ten artist projects will be extended for one week until October 13: Yvette Mattern's Global Rainbow, Maria Ezcurra's Made in China, Glenda León's Silent Rise, Chelanie Beaudin-Quintin's Screaming Booth, Sutton Beres Culler's Big Top Grand Stand, Brian Kane and Michael Oatman's 8th Wonder, Yoan Capote's Open Mind, Wilfredo Prieto's Ascendant Line, Leu Webb Projects' Melting Point and Antoni Mutadas' Good News. A complete list of times and locations is available by clicking here.

MY NIGHT

When you've given some thought on what you want to see, the best way to stay on track is to plan your night. On the Scotiabank Nuit Blanche site, there is a "My Night Planner" to help get you organized. On the night of the event, you can use your mobile device and visit snbTO.com to find the locations of exhibits near you.

Conga Irreversible, Los Carpinteros — *Conga Irreversible*, Los Carpinteros

CONTEST

Scotiabank Nuit Blanche has teamed up with BlogTO to bring you a photo contest! Throughout the night, attendees are encouraged to snap photos and upload them to social media. Tag your best one with the hashtag #snbTOBlogTO on Instagram from October 4th to 12th. Don't forget to tag @sbnuitblancheTO and #snbTO on Twitter and Instagram.

Watch this excellent teaser video below on Scotiabank Nuit Blanche...

TRAVEL PACKAGES

Visitors who book a two-night stay with any of the 14 Scotiabank Nuit Blanche hotel partners will receive an invitation to Behind The Nuit, featuring an exclusive sneak peek experience of Performance Anxiety at Nathan Phillips Square on the evening of Friday, October 3rd. This special event allows visitors to experience the work while learning about the curator, and artists and their creative process. Room rates start from $90 and both the Fairmont Royal York Hotel and the Eaton Chelsea, Toronto are official host hotels.

Complete information on all travel packages and hotels can be found here!

For more information on Scotiabank Nuit Blanche, go to:

Website: Scotiabanknuitblanche.ca/
Twitter: @sbnuitblancheTO
Instagram: sbnuitblancheTO
Facebook: sbnuitblancheTO
Phone: 416.392.2489

**If your business/organization is interested in a PTBOCanada Featured Post Advertorial, email our Sales Director Aaron Elliott at aaron@ptbocanada.com for info!