The Works Art & Design Festival

The Works Art & Design Festival is a thirteen day celebration held at the end of June and the beginning of July in downtown, Edmonton, Canada. The festival displays the work of artists and designers from across Canada as well as featured exhibits from international presenters.

Overview

Each year The Works Art & Design Festival presents free exhibits in over 30 non-traditional venues, such as restaurants, vacant retail spaces, warehouses, city parks, and office building lobbies. Artworks that are displayed range from the traditional (ceramics, painting, sculpture) to the contemporary (furniture design, site installations, graffiti) to the cutting edge (interactive new media installations, sonic installations).

Exhibitors

The Festival exhibits the work of well-known and awarding-winning artists as well as the work of emerging and student artists. Any artist or designer may apply to participate in the Festival during its annual Call to Enter in October. Artists, designers, and curators are also invited directly to participate in the Festival or may be commissioned to do a special project.

The Festival has presented artworks from every continent, but the majority of its content is Canadian.

Atmosphere

The Works Art & Design Festival features a major, free outdoor festival site on Sir Winston Churhill Square across from Edmonton's City Hall. The concrete plaza is filled with dozens of tents with Canadian artisans selling handmade crafts and artwork as well as local restaurants selling international foods.

The Works Street Stage has a wide variety of live music performed by Canadian bands and solo artists. The Works Street Stage is well known for its exciting Canada Day performances which draw tens of thousands of people every year.

Interactive family programs are also offered on the Square. Families make crafts, contribute to community public artworks, watch artist demonstrations, and participate in educational workshops.

2010 Festival

The 25th Anniversay of The Works Art & Design Festival is June 25 - July 7, 2010.

2009 Festival

The 24th annual The Works Art & Design Festival is June 20 - July 1, 2009.

2008 Festival

The 23rd Annual The Works Art & Design Festival is June 21 - July 2, 2008.

2007 Festival

The 22nd annual The Works Art & Design Festival is June 22 to July 4, 2007.

ee also

*Festivals in Alberta

External links

* [http://www.theworks.ab.ca/festivalfolder/festival/festival.html Official site]