One moon for one universal need. The need of human beings to express and communicate through art. The cities of Brussels and Madrid celebrate the 2009 White Night. Cultural and geographic issues differentiate both capitals, but a joint European artistic project unites them.

Last third of October Brussels woke up with a sense of expectancy, the same question was in everyone’s head: what has get on my nerves? Then they remembered, the main annual all-night arts festival happens today! Nuit Blanche! One walk around the center of the city warned the few people who still didn’t know, the city was taken by the preparations of the performances.

The same feeling happened to weeks before a few kilometers to the south of the capital of Belgium. Madrid had already gathered more than 800.000 persons. Music, films, dancing, paintings and other arts were the calling for the citizens. Hundreds of activities, by novice or recognize artists, by public or private institutions; made “La noche en Blanco“ the cultural event of the year.

One of the most important aspects of these nights is that, since 2007, some of the most important capitals in Europe formed a joint project. Every year artists from different nationalities team up for one cultural initiative. The main objective is to spread the talent of the local known figures internationally, but also to create awareness of shared problems, like citizenship solidarity and sustainability.

History

Many claimed the invention of the white nights: Paris, St. Petersburg, Berlin. Actually the name comes from the long summer days of St. Petersburg that occur due to its latitude. The cultural events organized during the city’s nights took the name of the phenomenon. In any case, now the idea has travel worldwide, and the important thing is that art is a universal language that can build bridges between different countries.

Sources:

Nuitblanchebrussels.be

Lanocheenblanco.com

Wikipedia

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