Plein Air Festival returning to Parrsboro

Go sightseeing in Parrsboro and you might spot an artist at work.

June 16-18 the Parrsboro International Plein Air (painting in the open air) Festival returns to the community.

“Plein Air is the fastest growing arts movement in North America,” said Robert More, executive director of Parrsboro Creative. “It’s like a brush fire, and we think our Plein Air event could be a game-changer for Parrsboro. As this festival develops and starts to bring sizable crowds here, the spin-off spending could become quite significant, and Parrsboro’s reputation as an arts community could gain a very high profile.”

Thirty-seven artists, from across Canada and the U.S., will be out with paints and canvas along the Bay of Fundy-Parrsboro shore, from Bass River to Advocate.

They head out at 8:30 a.m. on June 16, and their work has to be framed and ready for judging by 5 p.m. the next day.

The first viewing of their works of art, and the announcement of winners, will be at the Collectors’ Gala that Saturday evening at The Hall, 44 King Street, from 8 to 10 p.m. Tickets to the gala are $100, but this can be applied to the purchase of a painting.

The artwork will continue to be on display the following day, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., with free admission to the hall.

More original works painted by the artists during the weekend will be for sale at Art Lab, 121 Main Street.

There will also be an After Painting Social, Friday, June 17, from 7-9 p.m., on the deck at Ship’s Theatre with free admission.

For more information visit https://www.parrsborocreative.com/pleinair/ or contact Parrsboro Creative at parrsborocreative@gmail.com or 902-7282007.