The fifth annual Clearwater Children’s Art Festival will return on Wednesday, Aug. 3 at the Dutch Lake Community Centre field, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This free event for children of all ages will include 11 art stations providing hands-on workshops facilitated by local artists including clay, puppet making, acrylic painting and drama.
Event coordinator Elizabeth Shook is thrilled to see the festival grow in size and scope each year, saying, “It has always been my vision to have children connect with local artists in their community so they too can see themselves as an artist.”
This year’s festival will welcome acclaimed world music group ‘Barefoot Caravan,' which will perform two live music concerts and give some hands-on drumming and song writing workshops on the main stage.
There will be a concession on site provided by TiPi Treats and there will be a water station to clean off and cool down.
The festival is supported by many community businesses and volunteers and always sees a great turnout of a few hundred people each year.
A highlight of the festival for adults and children is the chance to view selections on display from the year's feature artist’s body of work.
This year the honour is bestowed upon Doris Laner, who will be on-site with her works to take part in the event.
“I am so thrilled that this festival even exists,” expresses Laner. “I don’t think people give creativity and art the importance it deserves. It is a natural human desire to be creative. It is a part of our DNA as far as being expressive, whether it be rhythm or drawing something on a cave wall, it is inherent in our nature and I worry that people are too distracted these days to pay attention to it. The more opportunities we can provide for children to express themselves through art the better.”