the street is our gallery

After a long winter, Festival Inspire is back for round 3! From July 10th to the 16 th, over 20 local and international artists will join in the creation of art in public places throughout Moncton, Riverview, and Dieppe in Canada. Once again, the festival also brings Greater Moncton a full week of cultural events and out of the box experiences : Giant murals, film screenings, street art, circus, dance parties, mural tours, ephemeral installations, concerts, workshops, and so much more.

“We have a desire to bring colour to our city, and make it more liveable and loveable. We work long hours all year long for this festival and we’re really in awe of what the community has created together, going into year 3” explained Lisa J. Griffin, Executive Director, during the programming launch held at the Aberdeen Cultural Center on Thursday.

The international guests this year come from all four directions of the globe: Etien (France), Eva Bracamontes (Mexico), WD-Wild Drawing (Greece), Senkoe (Mexico), Bordalo II (Portugal), BirdO (Canada), Jon Fox (Canada) and Lucas Beaufort (France) – (a project initiated and managed by local business Working Class). For some, the beginning of summer is just the time to fly to Moncton for Inspire. Returnees this year include Jose di Gregorio (USA), Jeremy Shantz (Montreal), Ruined Sundays (Montréal).

The crowd at the launch was alive with energy about changes in their city. “We are getting closer to being a cultural hub every year” explained Matt Williston, Creative Director. “Our city is alive with the creative class, we love to be able to be part of that colorful beacon”

Some novelties of the 3rd edition include the University of Inspire, a week-long series of workshops, master classes, and demonstrations designed to create space for skill-sharing. “We figured that with so many talented people engaged for the week of the festival each year it only makes sense to have some of the knowledge passed on. Several documentaries will be screened, including the awarded “Sky’s is the limit” by French filmmaker Jérôme Thomas, as well as short films made by participants of the FICFA partner film festival, C’est Right Short. Art in the Dark will happen on the Friday night of the festival and feature a series of ephemeral installations, a house show crawl and a new and improved version of the acclaimed Disco Bike Ride. In partnership with local Bike Cooperative ‘La Bikery’ the event drew more than 200 participants in 2016, and will be back in a musical bike tour of the downtown murals, fully equipped with live DJ on a glowing DJ Chariot bike.

century old castle by Eelco for Inspire 2016

The team will take advantage of the festival to launch the Mural Tour, a guided tour of the town murals by foot or on the bikes especially made for the occasion. These tours will take place all summer long, and during the festival, participants will be able to meet the artists and see them at work.

The Color Party is another expected event, which has become a symbol of the festival. Participants will be able one more year to throw colors at each other, this time at Victoria Park. Downing street will be closed to traffic during the weekend to host the main Saturday event and accommodate concerts, a Craft Village, aerial performances, circus, artistic installations, a craft beer garden,….
Live performances, parties and concerts will happen during the week to wind up these already busy days.

“Inspire grows every year, we are glad to be able to bring life, art and culture in the heart ofthe city, where each one can find something interesting” explain the co-funders of the festival.

The full programming will be available on festivalinspire.com and on social media. This year the team count a dozen members and more than 50 volunteers to welcome thousands participants during the week.

Media contacts:
506.988.2601 / 506.380.9632 / [email protected]

Programming !
(Details available on festivalinspire.com)

Monday July 10th:
● Murals starting
● Opening of the University of Inspire (program available soon)
● Opening surprise happening
● Screening of the documentary by Jérôme Thomas (FR) “Sky is the limit – Painters of the extreme” + public panel about muralism

Tuesday July 11th:
● Sceening of the documentary “water on the table” + public panel about water protection
● University of Inspire

Wednesday July 12th:
● University of Inspire
● Colour party, buskers, fire spinning, concerts, dance
● “C’est Right Short” screenings

Thursday July 13th:
● University of Inspire
● Mixer party (celebration, DJs set, meeting with artistes)

Friday July 14th:
● University of Inspire
● Art in the dark (performances and house crawl)
● Live performance by Lucas Beaufort (FR)
● Disco Bike Ride (disco cycling bike tour around the murals)
● Concerts
● Fruit Basket after party -LGBTQ and allies celebration

Saturday July 15th:
● Murals inauguration
● University of Inspire
● Big celebration downtown
○ concerts
○ Picaroons Craft Beer Village
○ circus
○ First nation workshops
○ crafters village
○ aerial performances

Sunday July 16th:
● Surprise – Keep in touch !

All day during the week: University of Inspire
A program of workshops, masterclasses, demonstrations, to allow everyone to learn the skills they always wanted to learn, and to share artistic and cultural knowledge.

All information will soon be available on
www.festivalinspire.com

and

www.facebook.com/festivalinspire

ISSA is an official Media Partner