Arts in Motion and Chautauqua festival returns to Summerside

Artists are filling the streets this week with music, performances, painting and much more during the annual Arts in Motion and Spirit of Chautauqua Festival in Summerside, P.E.I.

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The festival runs until July 29 and is packed full of things to do and learn.

I think it's really important for people to see how something is created ... Marlene Campbell

"It's a real opportunity to be close up with the arts community and learn about how important the arts are in building a vibrant, healthy community." saidMarleneCampbell,the cultural programming co-ordinator with CultureSummerside.

Weekdays, roughly 20artisans and performers are onthe streetshosting demonstrations, playing music, painting and interacting with visitors.

Be a part of the art

"I think it's really important for people to see how something is created to sit down with an artist and make a pair of earrings, to beable to talk to that artist or artisan and see the whole process and see what it means in their lives," Campbell said.

"Alot of the artists are telling me people are signing up for artist classes," she added.

From noon to 9 p.m. Thursday to Saturday,the Chautauqua tent atthe historic Wyatt Heritage propertieswill host"a mixture of talks, performances and then concerts at night time," Campbell said.

'Perfect setting' forChautauqua

For the past four years, the tent was hoisted in downtown Summerside, but, Campbell said,because Canada 150 sharesthe same birthday as theWyatt Historic House and Museum and the Lefurgey CulturalCentre, they've decided to host it on the heritage property's grounds.

"This year, due to the big celebrations up here we wanted to bringChautauquato our own grounds so more people could discover these beautiful buildings," Campbell said.

"I think it's going to add a wonderful component to it ... everything that happens here is history, it's heritage, it's arts and culture. I think it's the perfect setting for it."

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