Since 2002, the City of Paris has organized this major cultural event, which is now held in some 30 cities around the world. A unique opportunity to admire ephemeral works of art and live performances in the streets of Paris and in the Greater Paris area. It's a cultural rendez-vous that never fails to inspire and inspire.
Paris, the birthplace of modern art, introduced this nocturnal event in 2002, taking a more cultural and immersive approach to previous successful initiatives, such as the Allumées festival in Nantes in 1990, which staged a variety of events in unusual locations, and Lyon's historic Fête des Lumières (19th century), which spectacularly showcased the heritage of France's 3rd-largest city.
What these events have in common is that, once a year, they offer everyone free access to artistic installations and performances in spaces that are already accessible (gardens, bridges, squares) or specially opened for the occasion at night (swimming pools, gymnasiums, etc.). These are private or public sites whose primary vocation is not necessarily cultural, but which, for one night (7pm to 7am), are taken over by different artists: painters, sculptors, musicians, dancers...
Since its inception, the Nuit Blanche has been held in October, but for its 20th anniversary and after several editions hampered by heavy autumn rain, the organizers have decided to bring it forward to June.
Visitors can now enjoy a cultural outing without catching cold during their mostly pedestrian stroll (even if, for the occasion, the metro adopts extended opening hours).
Following on from “La Seine”, “Corps en mouvement” and “Jardin des délices”, the theme of this 23rd edition will be the French overseas territories and, in the year of the Olympic Games, Olympism.
Chaperoned by Claire Tancons, artistic director of this year's event, some 150 artistic proposals will be held in the capital and Greater Paris.
Here are 2 ideas for discovery:
For the full program by venue (in Paris and Ile de France) or by theme for this Nuit Blanche on Saturday June 1, visit the Sortir à Paris website. Nice stroll!
Valérie from Comme des Français
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Crédits photo : Antoine Ollier / Éric Lafargue / Hugo Lafitte / Southway Studio