Art in the Park takes back its name

By Michelle Potter
There were mixed reactions to our most recent name change.
Our newer friends, who have only ever known us as The New Art Festival, were a little confused. “Why the change? Is it still the same show?” Whereas those who had always known us as Art in the Park wondered why we’d ever changed our name at all.
The festival was founded back in 1992 by our very own Ottawa artist Bhat Boy. Originally known as Art in the Park, it began as a grassroots event with local artists gathering in the Glebe’s Central Park. In the beginning, it was just a few friends, sitting under the huge maple tree in the lower park, strumming guitars and sharing food and hanging paintings off the trees for any and all to see and enjoy. It was a day of visual art, music, picnicking and merriment.
Over the next few years, Art in the Park grew in stride with the park itself. People started bringing tents, stands and easels to display their work. Flowers bloomed. Artists came and went. Somewhere along the way, that big, beautiful maple tree had to come down. Word started to spread, and the gathering became an event, and that event became a festival.
In 2009, under the direction of Chandler Swain, a jury was introduced, with its criteria focused on showcasing original, handmade art. The decision was made to change the name to The New Art Festival, to better reflect this growth and shift in mission.
For the next 15 years, The New Art Festival had the honour of hosting extraordinary events alongside thousands of incredibly talented artists, each unique in their own way.
Now in 2024, the festival isn’t what it was 32, 15 or even 5 years ago. What started with just a few friends sitting under a tree is now a festival that features over 150 artists, stretches over two entire blocks of Central Park and attracts vendors and visitors from across the country. We have a website (www.artintheparkfestival.ca) and online events. We poster and advertise in neighbourhood papers. We have partnerships with local businesses, who generously support the festival by sponsoring several awards. There are registration forms, permits, insurance, rentals, volunteers, lists, lists, lists.
But throughout this transition, the festival has remained committed to its grassroots beginnings. No matter how big it has gotten, this festival has always been the same at heart. It’s families having picnics in the shade. It’s dogs rolling around in the grass. It’s couples strolling by the pond. It’s people sharing stories and laughter. It’s neighbours and community. It’s shape and texture and colour. It’s art.
And we’ve decided to honour those humble roots. We feel our original name perfectly represents the festival’s ethos and spirit, along with what has grown and evolved since 2009. Art in the Park is a showcase and celebration of truly incredible Canadian talent, a weekend of art, music, picnicking and merriment.
This name change feels like coming home.
It is an absolute joy to invite you to Art in the Park 2024! With over 170 artists showcasing their work, this is going to be our biggest event yet! Some of these makers have been with us since the very beginning, and some will be with us for the first time. We have painters, potters, sculptors, jewellers, photographers, mixed media artists, embroidery artists, glass workers, wood turners and a guy who makes banjos out of old tin cans.
We’ll be joined by several local eateries, who will be cooking up some tasty meals and snacks for you to enjoy. We have local entertainment and activities for the kiddos. We have portable toilets to keep everyone comfortable, a first aid station to keep everyone healthy, and a water station to keep everyone hydrated. And as always, admission is free.
Art in the Park is not just an art festival, it’s a full-day experience! Enjoy the sunshine and watch the ducks frolicking in the pond. Have a picnic under a willow tree. Explore art and meet the makers and maybe add to your collection. And if you want to bring along your guitar and do a little strumming, well, that would be fine by us.
Please join us on June 8 and 9, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine, in Central Park in the Glebe!
Michelle Potter is a local librarian, event planner, artist and fan of picnicking and merriment. She joined the festival in 2019 and has sent thousands of emails since then. You can find her at the info tent all festival long.