The Nuit Blanche concept

Nuit Blanche (which means “sleepless night” or “white night” in French), is a cultural event that is both artistic and popular. This 12th edition of the event aims at (re)discovering or (re)conquering this urban environment from a new perspective.

It is a night to get together, to share unusual and creative aspects of the contemporary creative scene in a warm and festive atmosphere that encourages discovery and wonder.

Nuit Blanche is aimed at opening up the city to the world of the night, by encouraging access to numerous places for a wide audience. This approach really is open to the city, to its inhabitants and to creativity.

What makes the Brussels Nuit Blanche different ?

A participative project :

One of the specific aspects of Nuit Blanche Brussels is its participative aspect, which is based on a huge call for projects aimed at all actors in the fields of social events, sports events, cultural events and tourism.

Previous editions encouraged the emergence of dozens of projects by recognised or novice artists, from public and private cultural institutions, but also by people involved in social work and associations.

In this way, Nuit Blanche intends to offer a higher profile both to the sociocultural world and to the organising authorities who have the task of managing regular events for the general public. This night will increase the profile of non-profit associations, shopkeepers and artists in Brussels, but also the commune services and cultural venues which depend on them. Cooperation between artists and young people is planned, in order to put together high quality productions.

An artistic night :

Nuit Blanche would like to place the emphasis on artists from Brussels and Belgium, and the elements which have made their international reputation : their proximity, humanity and accessibility. Brussels is teeming with artists who are well-known and less known, young and old… we give you a chance to meet them. Nuit Blanche would therefore like to offer these artists a large and varied audience by providing them with a stage and taking care of the coordination and logistics aspects.

La charte “Nuits Blanches Europe”

• NUIT BLANCHE est une manifestation culturelle ouverte à tous et gratuite, qui se tient chaque année de la fin de l’été au début de l’automne, durant une nuit complète.

• NUIT BLANCHE privilégie la création contemporaine sous toutes ses formes : arts plastiques, projections, installations, musiques, arts de la scène et de la rue, arts du cirque et arts forains.

• NUIT BLANCHE met en scène l’espace public sous tous ses aspects : lieux habituellement fermés ou abandonnés, lieux périphériques, ou encore lieux prestigieux ou appartenant au patrimoine historique de la ville, revisités singulièrement par les artistes.

• NUIT BLANCHE permet aux villes organisatrices de réfléchir ensemble aux évolutions actuelles des nuits urbaines et de mettre en place des services et modes d’organisation adaptés (économie, signalétique, éclairage, sécurité, services…).

• NUIT BLANCHE est l’occasion de promouvoir des formes de mobilité « douces » : facilitation de parcours à vélo, recours au tram, au transport en commun, aux navettes fluviales.

• NUIT BLANCHE favorise les échanges entre les centres-villes et les quartiers périphériques.

• Les villes partenaires de Nuits Blanches Europe décident, dans le but de développer les échanges entre elles et entre les artistes et publics européens, qu’un projet artistique commun sera mené chaque année.