Nuit Blanche, Toronto’s sunset to sunrise celebration is the largest contemporary art event in North America. Thanks to our partners East End Arts along with the Danforth BIA, we’re presenting another all-night art experience to our East Toronto communities along Danforth Avenue, between Greenwood + Coxwell TTC Stations.
This year’s City-wide Nuit Blanche theme is Translating the City, which speaks to our desire to centre the hidden artistic stories and voices of the East Danforth neighbourhood with a focus on different languages, cultures, stories and ideas of the neighbourhood not yet explored or platformed.
On Saturday, October 4, 2025, we invite you and your families to join us for Nuit Blanche East Danforth 2025 (#NBED25), in collaboration with East End Arts, enjoy the return of the IN VIEW series, an impressive storefront gallery exhibition featuring Indigenous artist Richael Laking and Wolf⁷a:z; stop into an all-night forest-themed Silent Disco with music from DJ Kookum, and more!
Nuit Blanche – East Danforth 25
Saturday, October 4, 2025 | 7PM – 7AM
Various locations along Danforth Avenue, between Greenwood + Coxwell TTC Subway Stations
Cost: FREE
Plan your trip by visiting the East End Arts Info Hub and online map to help you locate all of the art installations, food and drink, washrooms, and more. RSVP on Facebook.
ART INSTALLATIONS
O’notsta’kha (Shake the Bush) – A Silent Disco Celebrating Art, Nature, and Indigenous Tradition
Location: Bomb Fitness Danforth, 1480 Danforth Ave.
O’notsta’kéha the Kanienʼkehá꞉ka (Mohawk) phrase meaning “Shake the Bush” draws inspiration from the Haudenosaunee social dance, characterized by call-and-response singing and expressive footwork. The dance symbolizes a spiritual dialogue with the natural world, evoking the stirring of life within the forest.
In a vibrant reimagining of this tradition, the event will feature music by acclaimed Indigenous DJ and sound artist DJ Kookum, known for high-energy sets and genre-bending mixes that blend hip-hop, EDM, and Indigenous sounds.
Under the glow of the forest night, DJ Kookum’s exclusive sets will be featured on one of the three silent disco channels, adding a dynamic, contemporary edge to this deeply rooted cultural celebration.O ’notsta’kéha (Shake the Bush) is more than a dance party—it is a sensory experience that fosters reflection, connection, and celebration. It stands as a living tribute to Indigenous resilience, land-based knowledge, and the power of music to unite within the natural world.
DJ Kookum
DJ Kookum is an Indigenous-renowned DJ and producer from the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation and based in Vancouver, BC. Known for her versatile skills and ability to transcend genres, Kookum is always cooking, keeping the atmosphere alive, fresh, and electrifying. Blending EDM, hip hop, bass music, and global sounds, Kookum creates high-energy performances that resonate with music lovers of all backgrounds. With an extensive music library, Kookum ensures each performance is tailored to the crowd, igniting a shared sense of connection through the power of music.
This international star has taken her performances across the globe, captivating audiences in Germany, Australia, Mexico, and America. Closer to home, Kookum has graced some of Canada’s most prestigious events and festivals including Basscoast, Bastid’s BBQ, Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week, Nuit Blanche Toronto, Ted Talks after party, and the Vancouver Michelin awards, among many others.Aside from her reputable solo career, Kookum has been DJing for the hip hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids for nearly a decade, performing and touring across North America.
Beyond her musical prowess, DJ Kookum is a facilitator, mentor, and motivator. By fearlessly breaking boundaries and celebrating her identity, she sets an inspiring example for aspiring DJs and producers around the world. Through her groundbreaking work and dedication, she leaves a significant mark on the music industry, proving that women play a vital role in electronic music.
Haƞwi – Moon in the Dakota Language
Location: Blossoming Minds, 1530 Danforth Ave.Haƞwi features a shifting projection of the moon, moving through the four sacred colours: red, black/blue, yellow, and white. These colours represent all peoples and all directions around the earth.
The moon pulls us inward while also pushing us toward the shadowed deposits of our existence. It is a reminder of the vast expanse above us, and of the unique home that nurtures the molecules from which we are all formed. The moon holds both the moments we keep quietly in private thought, and the spectacular phenomena we gather to witness together.
The moon carries a name in every language. What are the stories your grandparents told, now carried forward by you?
Richael Laking
Richael Laking (b.1989) is Sisseton-Whapeton of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation and Irish mix born in Toronto Ontario.
She works with acrylic and mixed media on various surfaces. Her paintings explore socio-political issues masked by the media and pop culture, as well as her own surreal world.
Her work is purely expressive and takes place between here and the intricate mysteries of the human subconscious. She invites viewers to explore the hidden meanings through each colour, texture, shape and line.
The Agreements of Turtle Island
Location: Jump for Joy, 1472 Danforth Ave.
The Agreements of Turtle Island is a multimedia canvas piece centred on the powerful image of a snapping turtle—an animal deeply rooted in the creation stories of Turtle Island, the name many Indigenous Peoples use for what is now called North America. Through layered imagery, texture, and symbolic design, this work brings forward visual narratives of peace, governance, and shared responsibility for the land.
The turtle, long revered as a foundational being, carries not only the earth in its cultural significance, but also the layered agreements that have shaped our collective presence on these lands. A symbolic belt encircles the turtle’s form—an echo of historic treaty relationships between First Peoples and settlers, rooted in mutual respect, care, and stewardship.
This piece is a visual reminder that these original agreements were not only made between human nations, but also with the Earth itself. Today, everyone who calls these lands home is called to honour those original understandings—to care for and protect our shared home, Mother Earth.
In Indigenous worldviews, life moves in cycles. The Earth is not a commodity, but a living relative with whom we are in constant relationship. Humans are not above nature, but part of a vast web of interdependence—one that includes the waters, winds, animals, plants, insects, and stars. Each holds meaning. Each plays a role. As the two-legged, we are called to uphold our responsibilities with humility, respect, and care for all living beings.
Key elements in this artwork include:
- The Great Tree of Peace, with an eagle perched above and weapons buried beneath its roots—an emblem of the Great Law of Peace, the founding constitution of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. This law is one of the world’s oldest participatory governance systems and promotes values of unity, peace, and collective responsibility. The eagle atop the tree serves as a guardian, watching for danger and reminding us to protect the peace. The act of burying weapons beneath the tree symbolizes the end of conflict and a commitment to peaceful coexistence. Rooted in deep spiritual and philosophical teachings, the Great Law established a system of governance based on consensus, respect for diversity, and the well-being of future generations.
- The Haudenosaunee Confederacy belt, representing the unity of the Six Nations: Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora.
- Recognition of the traditional caretakers of the Toronto area, including the Haudenosaunee, the Huron-Wendat, the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Anishinaabe.
- The One Dish, One Spoon, One Bowl agreement, a longstanding treaty between the Haudenosaunee and the Anishinaabe.
It teaches three core principles:
- Take only what you need
- Leave some for others
- Keep the dish clean
The Agreements of Turtle Island is a multimedia canvas piece that depicts the alligator snapping turtle, a key figure in Indigenous creation stories of Turtle Island (North America). Layered imagery reflects themes of peace, treaty relationships, and shared responsibility for the land. The work invites reflection on our interconnectedness with the Earth and a call to honour original agreements grounded in respect, care, and balance.
Wolf⁷a:z
Wolf⁷a:z is a Haudenosaunee Two-Spirit artist from the Gayogohó:nǫ⁷ Nation of Six Nations of the Grand River. For over 18 years, they have developed a multidisciplinary practice that spans public mural installation, carving, jewelry, fabrication, welding, and epoxy resin work—deeply rooted in their heritage and lived experience. Through their murals, they actively promote the revitalization of the Gayogohó:nǫ⁷ (Cayuga) language, incorporating it into each project and donating 10% of profits to a language program within Six Nations. Their goal is to Indigenize urban spaces and foster empathy, kindness, and respect through visual storytelling. Wolf⁷a:z has painted murals in Canada, the U.S., Scotland, England, Mexico, and Germany. One of their interactive works in Hamilton features a QR code linking to their YouTube channel, where viewers can hear Cayuga & Mohawk spoken. Their work was featured in The Concrete Canvas Graffiti Book (2023), and they were honoured with the Toronto Arts Foundation Indigenous Artist Award in 2025.
FUNDERS AND PRESENTERS
NUIT BLANCHE TORONTO
Nuit Blanche was originally conceived in Paris, France in 2002, with a mandate to bring contemporary art to large and diverse audiences in public spaces. In 2006, the producers of the founding Nuit Blanche from the City of Paris invited the City of Toronto to join an assembly of more than six founding European cities producing similar art and cultural events. Toronto was the first North American city to model itself based on the City of Paris Nuit Blanche, and has since inspired similar celebrations. The Toronto event is produced by the City of Toronto.
Nuit Blanche Toronto is a free, 12-hour contemporary art event that has a mandate to connect contemporary art to the broadest possible publics and to create opportunities for audiences to explore and engage with contemporary art in public space.
The 19th annual Nuit Blanche Toronto will transform the city’s neighbourhoods and streets on the first day of fall with dazzling art installations, from 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 4 to 7 a.m. on Sunday, October 5. Featuring three exhibitions located in North York, Etobicoke and downtown and more than 85 works by local, national and international artists, the city becomes a living book created not just with words, but through sights, sounds, movements and shared spaces. Entry will be free for the public to engage with the art projects.
Since 2006, this award-winning event has featured almost 1,600 art installations by approximately 5,800 artists and has generated over $489 million in economic impact for Toronto. Browse past art projects. This year’s event hashtag is #NBTO25.
EAST END ARTS
East End Arts is a non-profit community arts organization that serves the east end of Toronto. We provide inclusive arts programming, events and services to our local communities, and we provide professional development opportunities to both emerging and established artists and arts organizations. Our vision is to unite, inspire and enhance the communities of east Toronto with the transformative power of the arts.THE
DAN FORTH MOSAIC BIA
The Danforth Mosaic BIA has everything you need within walking distance on Danforth-East between Jones Avenue and Westlake Avenue. We’re a true mosaic of people and Cultures. The BIA works in partnership with the City to create thriving, competitive, and safe business areas that attract shoppers, diners, tourists, and new businesses. Their vision is to create a vibrant and well-maintained business area with diverse shopping and dining opportunities and services to attract the local community as well as visitors.
NATIVE WOMEN IN THE ARTS
Native Women in the Arts (NWIA) is a not-for-profit organization for First Nations, Inuit and Métis women and other Indigenous gender marginalized folks who share the common interest of art, culture, community and the advancement of Indigenous peoples.
