About Nuit Blanche 2023
Nuit Blanche, Toronto’s all-night contemporary art event, will take place on September 23, 2023 from 7 pm to 7 am in neighbourhoods across the city, including major exhibition areas in Etobicoke, downtown and Scarborough. This year, the City of Toronto seeks to uncover and highlight artists whose ground-breaking practices challenge the status quo through media, form or content that transforms public spaces and inspires the public to see and experience Toronto in new and meaningful ways.
For the second year, Humber College Lakeshore Campus in Etobicoke will be a major exhibition hub and will showcase installations that speak to the curatorial theme of Breaking Ground. It speaks to ideas centered around the natural world as well as being on the vanguard of change and innovation. Defined as the preparation for building or planting, Breaking Ground invites artists to explore a multiplicity of themes, including but not limited to the implications of climate change, construction and development of the city’s urban landscape, the impacts on communities and our collective responsibilities around land and stewardship.
Time Commitment
The volunteer commitment for Nuit Blanche Toronto is overnight (more than 12 hours) for the duration of the event. Shifts before and after the event range from between two to six hours. For overnight shifts, volunteers are required to attend a pre-event training session.
Volunteer Roles
We have the following roles available during the event itself, as well as pre/post-event roles available:
Information Ambassadors provide front-line, top-caliber customer service to festival visitors. They are the goodwill ambassadors who keep everyone informed. Responsibilities include helping patrons navigate the event by distributing information materials, answering questions and giving directions.
Ushers provide front-line customer service to festival visitors while they wait to view projects and ensure their successful navigation through line-ups.
Project Facilitators assist an artist with their project and/or aid in facilitation with audiences in how to engage with the installation.
Volunteer Captain oversee a large group of volunteers assigned at sites where a staff person is not available. Responsibilities include managing schedules, facilitating tasks, and communicating between volunteers and staff. This position is ideal for someone who has some experience in volunteer coordination.
Pre/Post-Event Volunteers work with Humber Galleries staff and artists to install and de-install artwork, signage, and prepare event spaces. This position is ideal for someone who has some hands-on experience with artwork, general event preparation and wants to work with event staff and artists. Must commit to pre-event shift times of 12 - 7 pm or post-event shift times of 7 am - 12 noon.
Benefits of Volunteering
- As a Humber student, you can apply this volunteer opportunity toward your CCR
- Assist at one of Canada’s leading contemporary art events,
- Acquire new skills in event production,
- Experience the great feeling of helping Toronto be a liveable city,
- Contribute to your city’s well-being
- Earn volunteer hours towards community service or a VAACT stamp (Volunteer Award in Arts and Culture).
Next Steps
Pre/Post Event Volunteers
- Email stefanie.galvanek [at] humber.ca and indicate your interest in either pre or post-event shifts
- A phone call will be scheduled to discuss the position details
Event Volunteers
- Fill out this Application Form if you have not yet done so
- Attend a fast-track recruitment session held by the City of Toronto on the following dates:
- Saturday, September 16th at City Hall - Council Chambers, 10 am - 12:30 pm or 1:30 - 4 pm
- Tuesday, September 19th at Humber College Lakeshore Campus - G Cottage, G Commons, 12 - 3 pm
- RSVP to spevvol [at] toronto.ca to one of these sessions
For any questions, please email stefanie.galvanek [at] humber.ca