Nuit Blanche might expand to Scarborough next year

Nuit Blanche might be set to expand to Scarborough. The city is currently examining the possibility of using the Guild Inn as part of the annual all-night art celebration in 2017, a move that would bring the event to the former suburbs for the first time.

Scarborough Councillor Paul Ainslie made the request to Toronto's Economic Development Committee earlier this year, arguing that it was the right time to try out expansion of the one-night festival.

Hosting Nuit Blanche programming outside of downtown is not without precedence. The route in Paris reached well into the suburbs last year with success, and given the overcrowding that happens each in Toronto, there's a compelling reason to spread the installations out beyond the core.

It's an intriguing idea, particularly given the site. The Guild Inn is currently undergoing a major renovation and expansion as part of plans to re-launch it as an event venue. The adjacent park, which is currently home to a number of remnants from Toronto's architectural history, is also slated to be revitalized.

One imagines that the 88 acre site would be ideal for something like Nuit Blanche, which is often at its best when novel spaces are used for installations. The self-contained nature of the park would also allow for less walking between installations.

Beyond the venue, supporters of the idea note that Scarborough has a vibrant arts scene, but lacks an event of this magnitude and the exposure that comes along with it. This would certainly be a way to showcase what the creative culture that resides outside the core of Toronto.

Photo by Natta Summerky.