NOCTURNE 2025 CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Founded in 2008, Nocturne: Art at Night Festival (Nocturne) is a free, independent, contemporary art festival in Kjipuktuk (Halifax). Annually, Nocturne brings 65,000+ people to the streets of Halifax and Punamu'kwati'jk (Dartmouth) to experience art and celebrate the visual arts scene in unceded Mi'kma'ki territory (Nova Scotia).

Nocturne will take place from October 16-19, 2025, including various performances, workshops, artist talks/panels and opportunities for artists to connect. The signature night-time art experience takes place on Saturday, October 18th.

A detailed festival schedule will be available closer to the festival dates.

Artists working in any discipline are encouraged to apply.

We are looking for temporary public artworks that will be part of our signature night-time art experience on Saturday, October 18th, 2025, from 6 PM-midnight.

• Installations/ “static” projects - They must be open from 6 PM to midnight on Saturday, October 18. This also means artists should plan for the various weather conditions that could be a factor.

• Events/Performances - There must be at least one taking place on Saturday, October 18, but additional performances may be considered for additional times during the festival schedule.

• Workshops/Demonstrations/Artist talks - These will be scheduled on Friday, October 17. Artists can include in their application if they are interested in offering an artist talk, but it is not mandatory, or guaranteed.

Artists are required to respond to this year’s theme, Ground. Artists are invited to explore physical, social, cultural and political aspects of the ground beneath us. Gardeners, mycologists, walkers, archeologists and geologists, roadworkers, settlers; we all have a different relationship with this space which we interact with daily, and we encourage applicants to consider the multitude of possible meanings of this theme. To learn more about Marite and this year’s theme, click here.

Site-Specific: Venues should be strongly considered as part of the application, including:

• Details about the ideal venue. If your project is contingent on a specific venue, please include any confirmation that you may have with the venue, or what support you may need from Nocturne to help secure it.

• If there are any specific venue requirements. For instance, do you need to have electricity?

We encourage all applicants to consider their relationship to the land; Nocturne is an opportunity and platform to re-imagine the spaces of our city, both built and natural, and to interrogate the systems and institutions that govern those spaces. It is also a platform to consider the lived and experienced cultural landscapes that make up our city. The land (and waters) where Nocturne takes place is Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral, unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Mi’kmaq People. This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship,” which Wolastoqiyik and Mi’kmaq Peoples first signed with the British crown in 1725. It’s important that we say unceded and unsurrendered because acts that violate these treaties are happening every day here in Mi’kma’ki and all across Turtle Island. We are all treaty people, and Nocturne strives to uphold the relationships outlined in these treaties that govern this land. We also acknowledge the significant foundations that the infrastructure and culture of Black and African Nova Scotian communities have contributed and continue to contribute to this province and country. Nocturne continues to collaborate, amplify, and connect with the many art communities that live and work here in Mi'kma'ki. The Native Land Interactive Map is a great resource and educational tool for learning more about Indigenous territories, treaties, and languages.

Workshops/Demonstrations/Artist Talks will be scheduled on Friday, October 17. Artists can include in their application if they are interested in offering an artist talk, but it is not mandatory or guaranteed. If selected, additional CARFAC fees will be allocated for these activities.

Compensation:

• Nocturne is proud to pay successful applicants an equitable CARFAC 2025 Public Art Fee Schedule, and for material/production, accessibility, and artist care.

• Artists are encouraged to consider various costs in their budget and should use the budget template provided.

• The Nocturne Selection Committee reserves the right to ask questions about the submitted budget, provide additional funding, or suggest a different contribution amount.

Nocturne doesn't have a set budget for projects. However, this graph provides information about the range of budgets (inclusive of all project costs) for successful projects that took place from 2022-2024

2022-2024 Nocturne project budget range.

The Nocturne Selection Committee reserves the right to ask questions about the submitted budget, provide additional funding, or suggest a different contribution amount.

2025 Budget Template

Accessibility:

• We invite applicants to consider accessibility in their project budget. Examples of eligible costs in this category include: sign language interpretation, personal care attendant or support worker, a transcriber or specialized editor, personal project coordinator or assistant, a guide or visual describer, converting material into accessible formats, rental of specialized equipment needed for personal access or support, additional signage to make public engagement more accessible/inclusive.

• Calls for Submission: We are also currently accepting applications to our Low-Sensory Project Call for Submissions. Artists are permitted to submit to multiple calls that they are eligible for

• Community Group and Galleries Call for Submission: Nocturne works with local Community Groups and Galleries each year for the festival. This call will be open in late Spring 2025.

• Partnerships: Nocturne has broad relationships with various members of the community – artists, community partners, and sponsors – who come from a broad spectrum of sectors and perspectives, but the one thing that they have in common is their support for the arts and the Nocturne Festival to help sustain community, support artists, and create a vibrant HRM. If you are interested in partnering with Nocturne, we would love to hear from you at [email protected].

• Volunteer: Nocturne is run primarily by volunteers and would not be possible without your dedication. One of the best ways to support the festival is to come out and lend a hand! Our call for volunteers for 2025 will be made available closer to the festival dates.

• Venues: Nocturne is always seeking new and unique venues for projects. If you have a space and would like to host a project, please get in touch with us at [email protected].

All selected projects will be insured under our Commercial General Liability policy ($5,000,000) and therefore subject to review for safety and liability concerns. Nocturne will work with artists to mitigate risks and provide any formal documentation required. This may include (but is not limited to) adding additionally insured companies/venues to our policy.

Apply using THIS FORM.

This is a fillable Google form so keep in mind that while you can work on it as you go you cannot save the form to come back to it later. We suggest working offline first and then copy and pasting your answers once you are ready to submit. To download a PDF of the call, click HERE.

1. Fill out your application form and be sure to complete each section:
   

   1. Contact Information

   2. Artist/Collective Information

   3. Project Information

   4. Support Material

      1. BUDGET TEMPLATE - This template can be downloaded as spreadsheets usable in other platforms.

      2. IMAGE LIST TEMPLATE - This template can be downloaded as spreadsheets usable in other platforms.

      3. An up-to-date artist CV + Bio (2 pages max per artist. Please include all CVs/bios in 1 PDF).

      4. (Optional) Letters of support from collaborators or venues.

   5. Artist Declaration

Submit your application and all additional materials before the deadline: April 7, 2025 11:59 PM (ADT)

We understand that as an artist you have many ideas for projects you might want to pursue for Nocturne. In order to support more artists through our festival, we will only be selecting one application per artist. This means you should consider focusing on one application to this call for projects rather than putting in multiple ideas with multiple collaborators. You may provide support to multiple applications within your capacity beyond your own project, however it is our intention to only have one project per artist at the festival moving forward.

Staff will do an initial review of all proposals and flag anything that does not align with our festival priorities or our initial safety review or does not follow our application criteria. All applications will be sent to the Nocturne Selection Committee which is composed of local artists, arts and culture workers, and community members. The Selection Committee members are paid an honorarium for their time and expertise.

The Nocturne Selection Committee reviews the applications and makes recommendations based on the following criteria:

Staff will do an initial review of all proposals and flag anything that does not align with our festival priorities or our initial safety review or does not follow our application criteria. All applications will be sent to the Nocturne Selection Committee which is composed of local artists, arts and culture workers, and community members. The Selection Committee members are paid an honorarium for their time and expertise.

• January 15: Call for submissions opens

• January 28: Info session - Watch recording here

• April 7: Call for submissions closes. The selection committee will review and deliberate.

• Early June: Successful applicants contacted

• August 1: Marketing materials due

• October 16-19: Nocturne 2025

• December 31: Deadline for final reports from artists

Applicants will be informed of any adjustments to the timeline.

Nocturne is supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, Arts NS, HRM, and local community partners. Learn more about our festival partners and sponsors here.

• Artists should consider the various weather conditions that might be a factor.
• Take a look at examples of previous Nocturne projects from our archive.
• Work offline first and then move all your information to the Google form.
• Watch the info session recording, here.

We are happy to answer any questions you may have and to accommodate applicants facing barriers to completing an online application or any part of our application process.

Please note, for accessibility purposes, Nocturne will also accept proposals via phone, video, or audio file as needed by the applicant. Please get in touch via email at [email protected] to arrange this submission type. This process will take approximately one hour, and it will include a recorded interview that takes place between an organizer or committee member and the applicant to go through each section of the application together. The conversation will be recorded and shared with the jury via video or transcription.

Signy Holm (she/her)

Programming Coordinator

[email protected]

Melany Nugent-Noble (she/her)

Executive Director

[email protected]

Brigitta Zhao (she/her)

Director of Artist Care and Support

[email protected]

Marite Kuus (she/her)

Festival Curator

[email protected]

At the end of each festival season, we ask participating artists what advice they would give other artists applying to Nocturne. Here’s what past Nocturne artists had to share:

“I think finding the perfect location for your project is one of the most important aspects for its success. I would advise my future me to propose a site-specific installation project for this festival.”

“Designate some wiggle room in your budget for unexpected expenses.”

“Focus on building supportive connections and collaborating with fellow artists and local organizations. Cultivate these relationships early, engage with mentors who can offer valuable guidance. Plan your project well in advance by setting clear goals, budgeting effectively, and regularly checking in on your progress with meetings. Stay open-minded throughout the process—embrace new ideas, seek feedback, and participate in workshops to expand your skills. Most importantly, remember that Nocturne is all about creativity and creation. So make sure you are having fun!”

“Be more realistic with your budgets.”

“Pack snacks, extra water and just enjoy.”

“Be as thorough as possible in planning and leave room for evolution with your ideas and budget. Think about how to have the biggest visual+ impact with the simplest approach. Have as many commitments from involved parties before completing the application as possible. Get lots of feedback from your peers if you can.”

“I would say that it's important to not have too big of a budget.”

“Go for it. You don’t know unless you try. Take chances, follow your passion. Also, I think being true to the theme of the festival is very important. So ensure you give that a lot of thought that what you were submitting matches what the organizers are trying to achieve.”

“[We] crafted our proposal by challenging our concept with numerous “what if” questions, ensuring it was practical and achievable, not just a conceptual idea. We believe that submitting a proposal that’s as technical as it is artistic is essential—it helps judges see that your idea is truly feasible. We approached it much like a business would when applying for a grant or loan, recognizing that these grants are an investment in ideas they want to see succeed beyond just their aesthetic value. Our goal was to minimize the "work" for the judges by preemptively addressing potential questions and providing clear solutions. While we can’t be certain this approach was the "correct" one, being as specific and concrete as possible certainly felt like it couldn't hurt! :)”

“I would say location and concept of the work is critical.”

“Despite best efforts, things will likely take longer and cost more than you budgeted for. Make and try to stick to your production plan (look up Gantt chart if not familiar with them) - review & update as needed. The list of to-do's often gets longer as you get deeper into it, and it helps to have a checklist so you can adjust your schedule and budget.”

“Secure your own site before/during application process, prepare all requested promo in advance, do as much as possible in advance, make a timeline, set reminders, leave grace period for time and budget, hire help, budget for help, make your own arrangements for everything, talk to artists who previously exhibited, plan a significant rest after takedown tasks, plan ahead to document your project”

“Pitch hard! Don't soften the pitch.”

“Go even bolder! I would have loved to have attempted something even more challenging and more interactive.”

“I think I might tell me and other artists who apply to be persistent. Each round of applications is different from the last, the theme changes, and the jury changes. If you're confident in your idea/project just keep trying.”

“Advocate for your work and your name”

“Be very clear about costs! My first time doing Nocturne as an independent artist (many years ago), I undervalued nearly everything and was well out of pocket for the project, thinking that it would be better to appear as "cheap" as possible.”

“Definitely make use of all resources the festival offers to support the artists and plan ahead so you can have flexibility during the night of the festival, be it for last-minute adjustments (they are always needed) or for enjoying other projects as the night progresses.”

“Applying for a project grant for additional funding alongside the Nocturne funding would have been great. I wish I would have sought that out. I also wish I was organized enough to know what I needed for help, and then maybe it wouldn't have taken me so long to install. I'm really glad I came 5 days early though and I'm also glad I built the piece at home first and shipped it rather than try to get it all printed and cut there. That planning helped me in the long run.”

“Be aware of other grant application deadlines and their timing with respect to Nocturne. If you're out of province consider all the ways you can plan your work before actually arriving there”

“To research travel costs a bit more and book hotels a lot earlier.”

“Learn how to ask for accommodations. Have self-awareness around what your needs are for your project. Connect and talk with other Nocturne and past participants to get a sense of their experience.”

“Consider the audience as part of your project!”

“Consider how you will pace yourself through the length of the evening, remembering that you can set a schedule of performance times, or plan to have a volunteer team to help you balance the durational element of the event.”

“Think carefully about what you will need to complete the festival night. Imagine the night progressing and try to think of things that could come up.”