Toronto will pull another all-nighter at Scotiabank Nuit Blanche

TORONTO , Sept. 29 /CNW/ - Toronto will be the perfect destination for art enthusiasts this weekend as nearly 500 national and international artists descend on the city, creating 130 projects for Scotiabank Nuit Blanche, the free, all-night celebration of contemporary art which returns on October 3 . A million people are expected to attend.

Once again, unique spaces across Toronto will be transformed by contemporary art. Jeff Koons ' infamous Rabbit Balloon will float high above spectators in the Toronto Eaton Centre. The Toronto Bus Depot will, for one night only, be the site of a caged, blindfolded grudge match between New York performance artist and fighter Sean "El Conquistador" Leonardo and 20 other men in Battle Royal.

In the financial district, veteran conceptual artist and Order of Canada recipient IAIN BAXTER& will gather Toronto media personalities and celebrities to play an all-night version of the iconic real estate game, Monopoly, inside the Toronto Stock Exchange - with real money. At the Sheraton Centre, installation/performance artists FASTWÜRMS will transform the waterfall atrium, lobby and gardens into a zone of live tableaux and divinatory encounters through iTouch technology.

Liberty Village will feature a moving sound installation by Oswaldo Macià, Surrounded in Tears 2004-2009, a composition of a symphony of hundreds of crying voices. Canadian art legend Tom Dean's Fire and Sausage: Small Mercies will create a 'hobo utopia,' a social sculpture made up of throngs of audience members clustered around fire barrels, vying for homemade sausages and hot chocolate made by Chef Jamie Kennedy .

In addition to the exhibition by curators Gregory Elgstrand, Thom Sokoloski, Jim Drobnick, Jennifer Fisher and Makiko Hara, and the myriad Independent Projects produced by Toronto's diverse arts community, the City has commissioned a large installation by internationally renowned artist D.A. Therrien to capitalize on the iconic infrastructure of Toronto City Hall. Therrien's Beautiful Light: Four Letter Word Machine will suspend four giant light sculptures in the air between City Hall's two towers above the council chamber, blasting a changing array of four-letter word patterns all night long. An image of the Beautiful Light installation is available at http://www.toronto.ca/special_events/nuitblanche/projects2009.htm.

Survey results indicate Scotiabank Nuit Blanche 2008 motivated more than 100,000 tourists to come to Toronto specifically to attend the event. The night generated $13.7 million in local economic impact - impressive results for a free event lasting only 12 hours. This year, visitors to Toronto will benefit from travel packages that include discounts on transportation, hotels and attractions, including the following:

    
    Delta Chelsea Art Enthusiast Package (from $135 CAD a night, double
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
    occupancy)
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    -  One night's accommodation in a Delta category room
    -  Late check-out: 3 p.m.
    -  Quote code: NU0 (zero)
    -  Subject to availability
    -  Taxes not included
    -  Not valid for group travel
    -  New bookings only

    To book this special Scotiabank Nuit Blanche rate, please call
1-800-CHELSEA (243-5732) or visit www.deltachealsea.com.

    VIA RAIL
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    -  Receive a 10 per cent discount off the best available fare in any
       class.
    -  Discount code: 11774

    Customers can book this VIA Rail package by visiting http://www.viarail.ca or by calling 1-888-VIA-RAIL.

    To book online at viarail.ca, login to your profile (or create one if you
do not have one.) Proceed with your booking as normal. On the "Passengers
Information" screen, select "Other Special Discounts" as the "Discount Type"
and enter "11774" as the discount code. No serial number is required. Your
fare will be recalculated to reflect discount if they are applicable. To book
directly with VIA Rail, please mention "Discount 11774" prior to commencing
your reservation.

    Greyhound Canada
    ----------------
    Book ahead and save
    -  50% off regular fares with 21 day advance purchase
    -  25% off regular with 14 day advance purchase
    -  10% off regular with 7 day advance purchase
    For more details or for bookings, visit http://www.greyhound.ca.
    

Greyhound Canada is also pleased to offer discounted coach rental rates for direct access to Scotiabank Nuit Blanche in Toronto . Call toll free at 1-866-313-0339 and advise the sales representatives that the booking is for Nuit Blanche to receive the discounted rates. Discounts range from 30 to 35 per cent, depending on city of origin, and will apply from London , Guelph, Kitchener/Waterloo, Niagara Falls, Kingston and Ottawa .

Visitors are encouraged to experience all Toronto has to offer for an entire weekend. Discounts at popular Toronto attractions and even more hotel packages can be found at http://www.scotiabanknuitblanche.ca.

Scotiabank Nuit Blanche is produced by the City of Toronto in collaboration with Toronto's arts community. Since the inaugural event in 2006, it has secured its place among the most important cultural events in North America , being honoured with the prestigious Urban Leadership Award and the Globe and Mail Business for the Arts Award. This year's event contains 46 City-produced projects chosen and developed by the curators and artists from across Canada and around the world; and 85 independent projects created by Toronto's diverse arts community.

Full programming details are available at http://www.scotiabanknuitblanche.ca.

Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is the economic engine of Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America . Toronto has won numerous awards for quality, innovation and efficiency in delivering public services. 2009 marks the 175th anniversary of Toronto's incorporation as a city. Toronto's government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents.

    
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/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/

For further information: Media contact: Giannina Warren, Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, [phone], [email protected]