Late Night Art: Paris’ Nuit Blanche 2009

Grab an espresso and gear up for an endless evening of artistic exploration! This Saturday, October 3, Paris’ Nuit Blanche returns for its 8th year. This free annual event (which translates roughly to “sleepless night”) celebrates the importance of art as a central part of life in Paris and its diverse communities. This year’s fete has no explicit theme, but rather is dedicated to areas of the city “which you can explore through dream-like trails.” As night falls, thousands of art-lovers will wander the streets, exploring the boundaries between art and life, dream and reality…

Photo: paintingparis.blogspot.com

As in years past, the Marais (and neighboring Chatelet) will form the center of the event, but exhibitions and installations will be featured in northern Paris (in and around the Parc Buttes-Chaumont) and on the Left Bank (near the Jardin du Luxembourg and the Latin Quarter).

On this special night, artists from around the world are invited to display their work in spaces around the city, including churches, galleries, museums, parks, theaters, and plazas. The “art” itself comes in many different forms ranging from traditional photo and painting exhibitions, to performance art, to musical performances, to interactive installations. Featured artists include Doug Aitken, Vincent Olinet, Nathan Coley, and dozens of others.

All venues and exhibitions are free and open to the public throughout the night. Designated pubic transport (metro lines 11 and 14 and night buses) operate all night long to help facilitate the event.

For more details and to download a full program with a map of the “dream-like trails” (in English) click here. To visit the Nuit Blanche website (in French), click here.

Written by Tory Hoen for the HiP Paris Blog. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.