Scotiabank Nuit Blanche Announces Its 2014 Economic Impact and Exciting First Details for 10th Edition in 2015

TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - December 10, 2014) - The City of Toronto today announced the economic impact of Scotiabank Nuit Blanche 2014, Toronto's free annual all-night celebration of contemporary art. In addition, preliminary details for next year's 10th edition were revealed and organizers extended an invitation for artist submissions to three different programs.

Based on the findings of an Ipsos Reid survey, Scotiabank Nuit Blanche 2014 generated an economic impact of about $40.5 million for Toronto. The popular event held on October 4 attracted both local and out-of-town audiences, with an estimated attendance exceeding one million people and including close to 200,000 out-of-town visitors.

The event brought together the exceptional talents of nearly 400 artists and curators, and dozens of galleries, museums, cultural and educational institutions, and neighbourhoods in a collaborative undertaking.

"Every year, I look forward to travelling throughout the city, observing and participating in the diverse and powerful art installations that captivate Toronto," said Mayor John Tory. "Scotiabank Nuit Blanche is a truly unique event that has grown into one of the largest of its kind in the world, bringing in more than $227 million in total economic impact for Toronto since 2006. As Mayor, I will invest in arts and culture, allowing major events like this to prosper and deliver unforgettable experiences to Torontonians."

"This year Scotiabank Nuit Blanche generated its highest ever economic impact and tourist attendance," said Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 37 Scarborough Centre), Chair of the Economic Development Committee. "It is not only a powerful magnet for tourism, it energizes our city and continues to attract impressive, positive national and international media attention."

Ipsos Reid survey results show that awareness for the event is up year over year, including outside of Toronto. Thirty-five media from key markets including the United States, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Brazil, Germany and Japan, attended and covered the event. They were hosted in partnership with Tourism Toronto and the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC).

For the second year, extended projects allowed Toronto residents and visitors further opportunity to experience some of this year's highlights, including "Global Rainbow" and "Made in China." The Ipsos Reid survey results show that hundreds of thousands of people took advantage of this extension and visited one or more of these projects after the main event on October 4 through to October 13.