Video night puts work in shop windows

There is a major Jewish influence to Nuit Blanche Video, a 12-hour arts event starting in central London on Saturday night and involving shops, restaurants, galleries and even a private members' club. Yasmine Datnow, Maïa Morgensztern and Marie Shek are curating Nuit Blanche - French for white night - and Israeli artists are among those showing films or videos projected on to screens in windows of buildings.

Morgensztern explains that only English and French artists were involved in a previous incarnation. "This year it has expanded to have a more international feel. We want it to be as big and democratic as possible. It is free, it takes place outside. You might plan to follow the route or you might stumble upon it while on an evening out." Some methods of projection will be more unusual. For example, Le Meridien Hotel in Piccadilly will project film on to the pavement at the entrance.

The theme of the evening, "The World We Live In", appealed to the curators. "We are Jewish women but we come from different backgrounds," Morgensztern says. "I am French, Yasmine is British and Marie was born in Tunisia and now lives in Israel." She is proud that a number of Israeli artists are taking part and also that Nuit Blanche has received support from the Israeli embassy, but stresses that "the embassy of Switzerland is also supporting the event and other embassies wanted to be involved. We hope to involve them in future."

Among the contributors is London-based Israeli artist Ori Gersht, who is "delighted by the unassuming spirit of this initiative. Presenting work in an unfamiliar context is very exciting for me. I believe that the event will introduce a new audience to the work."