Powered by Emera - Nocturne Halifax

Posted on November 1st, 2022
by Melany Nugent-Noble

Each year, Nocturne transforms the city and brings art and energy to the streets of Kjipuktuk/Halifax, and it is an opportunity to showcase and celebrate the visual arts scene in Mi'kma'ki/Nova Scotia.

We Can Dance, October 15- November 15, 2022, Halifax Waterfront — People dance inside a shipping container that has one white, illuminated wall while people watch. In the background is a large projection of people dancing om a large building. Photo by Jessica Judge.

The accessibility of Nocturne for all who attend is important to us, and ensuring that all of the projects that take part in the festival are free, but also in consideration of the different ways folks with diverse abilities experience the festival. For instance, by including translation (ASL or into different languages), wheelchair accessibility, and closed caption videos. Alternatively, projects may also thematically address accessibility, welcoming, and safe spaces for everyone.

For 2022 Nocturne, LEGACIES, our Accessibility Partners, Emera were instrumental in supporting accessibility, including Access & Artist Care in the Arts, hosted by Lux Gow-Habrich & Del Ruhdorfer; and in bringing We Can Dance, a wheelchair-accessible, family-friendly, and participatory artwork to be part of the festival and for an extended period until November 15.

We Can Dance, Octob er 15-November 15, Halifax Waterfront. — A hoop dancer, artist Sandra Lamouche is in a shipping container that has one white, illuminated wall while people watch. In the background is a large projection of people dancing on a large building.

In September 2022, when Hurricane Fiona tracked through Atlantic Canada, it left a path of destruction and disrupted many lives in the region. Nocturne was no exception, and with transport and shipping of We Can Dance from Montreal being put into question only weeks before the festival, Emera responded with urgency and care to ensure that it continued without skipping a beat.

Projects and resources such as these help us to build awareness and a platform for the future to ensure growing accessibility across Nocturne’s programming and engagement in the community. We would like to thank Emera for their generous support!

For more information about Emera’s response to Hurricane Fiona, visit the United Hurricane Relief Fund, which is a fund designed to help those organizations meet basic needs for people who lost food or wages due to the impacts of Hurricane Fiona, and learn more about how Emera is supporting youth, safety and innovation through community investment by checking out their Community Stories.

We invite you to share with us ways that accessibility is important to you, or any other ideas that you have about Nocturne at: info@nocturnehalifax.

With support from our accessibility partners at Emera, we’ve rounded up some different resources that help to highlight why accessibility in the arts is important and some accessible projects at Nocturne this year that you can check out!

Thank you to Emera, Nocturne's Accessibility Partner for their generous support.