“NON STOP” event – Montreal

“I particularly remember visiting…

In 2022, MTL 24/24 in collaboration with La Société des Arts Technologiques (SAT) were proud to host a ground breaking pilot project that has paved away for 24-hour licensing in Montreal. For 26-hours nonstop, the event comprised of two days of indoor and outdoor cultural nightlife programming, catering to both a public of early risers and night owls.

I particularly remember meeting my colleague, co-founder and General Director of MTL 24/24 Mathieu Grondin, during the day party, after a well-deserved nap and shower since he had manned the event all through the night.

I had only arrived at 9h30 AM and it was a joyful occasion to witness an indoor and outdoor event that catered to both our schedules and preferences.

The party was a huge success. It also opened the door for 18 other venues to remain open for 24 hours for this year’s edition of Nuit Blanche. And this year, NON STOP is pushing the envelope even further, offering Montrealers and visiting guests a continuous, 36-hour event, where diversified, cultural programming and performances highlight artists from the local and international nightlife culture. NON STOP is proof that creating space for cultural programming, day and night contributes positively to the built environment. Even in Montreal, it’s increasingly difficult to sustain cultural spaces, indoors and outdoors, since noise bylaws and less-than-tolerant neighbours continue to push venues and programs to the far edges of the city, which is not serviced by collective transit or strategically centralized. This is why, within three years MTL 24/24 aims to create a permanent place called “Mairie de la nuit” that would serve as a broadcast and culture centre, museum and a school for night studies. Inspired by spaces like PIP and Holzmarkt for bringing together music, dance, gastronomy, art galleries, courses, workshops and even artist studios or residencies in one place to express local talent in a multidisciplinary way, a built environment like this allows for 24 hour operations, offering a variety of activities for different audiences any time that suits them.” (Booklet Positive Lived Experiences of Quality in the Built Environment 2023, p.270).

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/4/folders/1RG3s45cJxl7O75v8hEONqjjgIbGB5XpI