Scotiabank Nuit Blanche raises $23,000 for Regent Park's ArtHeart

    TORONTO, Oct. 23 /CNW/ - On Saturday October 4th, art enthusiasts stayed
up all night and voted for their favourite of 155 art projects for a chance to
win a trip to Nuit Blanche in Paris. Proceeds from voting and from merchandise
sold at the event benefited ArtHeart, a community art centre located in Regent
Park.

    The selected Scotiabank People's Choice exhibits at the 2008 Scotiabank
Nuit Blanche are:Stereoscope             Project Blinkenlights, Berlin, Germany;
    Zombies in Condoland    by Jillian McDonald, New York, USA;
    Waterfall               by Katharine Harvey, Toronto."The Scotiabank People's Choice is a way of reflecting the public's
appreciation for the artists who help put Scotiabank Nuit Blanche together for
an unforgettable, interactive experience," said Chris Hodgson, Scotiabank
Executive Vice-President and Head of Domestic Personal Banking. "This year's
voting and merchandise sales also helped raise funds for ArtHeart, a Regent
Park community art centre."
    A total of $23,000 was raised for ArtHeart Community Art Centre, and will
help provide children, youth and adults in need with visual arts programs, art
education and art materials, year-round and free-of-charge.
    Scotiabank Nuit Blanche 2008 brought together the exceptional talents of
more than 750 artists and curators, 92 galleries, museums, cultural and
educational institutions and neighbourhoods, 450 volunteers and 24 corporate
sponsors and media partners. Plans are already underway for the fourth edition
of Scotiabank Nuit Blanche, which returns to Toronto on Saturday, October 3,
2009.

    Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live
and work, both in Canada and abroad. Recognized as a leader internationally
and among Canadian corporations for its charitable donations and philanthropic
activities, in 2007 the Bank provided more than $43 million in sponsorships
and donations to a variety of projects and initiatives, primarily in the areas
of healthcare, education, social services and arts and culture. Visit us
online at www.scotiabank.com.