News release

Archives, Museums Take Part in Nocturne

Communities, Culture and Heritage (Jan. 2011 - Aug. 2021)

Navigate a starry sky, savour Nova Scotia's seafood history, and sing some sea-faring songs, as part of Nocturne: Art at Night on Saturday, Oct. 19.

The Museum of Natural History, the Nova Scotia Archives and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic will offer special programs and exhibits as part of the sixth annual visual arts festival, taking place from 6 p.m. to midnight throughout Halifax. Admission is free at all sites.

"Nocturne: Art at Night is an opportunity for Nova Scotians of all ages to experience Halifax's visual arts scene," said Laura Lee Langley, deputy minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage. "The amazing team at the Nova Scotia Archives, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and the Museum of Natural History have put together some very interesting and interactive exhibits that will give people a chance to learn about the province's heritage in a really fun and unique way."

Dozens of galleries, institutions and businesses throughout Halifax will host events during Nocturne.

"The Nocturne board of directors is always pleased to work with galleries and institutions that come together year after year for Nocturne," said Lorraine Plourde, Nocturne: Art at Night chair. "Dedicating special programming and staying open late for the night contribute to the magic of the night of our event."

The Nova Scotia Archives is looking back at Nova Scotia's food industries, specifically the canning of lobsters. The archives will feature the exhibit What's Cooking, a wildly colourful and artistic collection of canned seafood labels from more than a century ago. The exhibit features cannery labels used by Roberts, Simpson and a number of other commercial operations throughout the Maritimes. There will also be food to complement the exhibit. The Nova Scotia Archives will be open from 6 p.m. until 11:45 p.m.

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic will feature Nocturnal on Nocturne. In the 18th century, in the evenings under a star-filled sky, sailors used nocturnals to find their way through the vast and endless sea. Demonstrations using replicas of the nocturnal instrument will be held at 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. The museum will be filled with the sounds of traditional sea-faring songs and stories told by members and friends from the Helen Creighton Folklore Society, starting at 6 p.m. The museum will be open until midnight.

The Museum of Natural History will host live shows on its Science on a Sphere every 30 minutes, about live weather, air traffic, earthquakes, Facebook connections and more. The museum will also host Celebrate The Common 250 as they project images of the Halifax Commons in the main Gallery.

For more information, go to http://nocturnehalifax.ca .