pARTicipate | Arts & Nature Festival

pARTicipate | Arts & Nature Festival


Date: September 5,6 & 7
Locations:  Different Locations for Workshops


pARTicipate is a community festival of workshops and events that brings together professionals, amateurs, and the curious to participate in exploring art and nature. A collaboration between the Andrew & Laura McCain Art Gallery, Second Wind Music Centre, the Boardwalk Cafe & Wine as well as other community partners, the festival provides unique and enriching creative experiences for everyone over three days on September 5, 6 & 7.

The Festival is an opportunity to get to know the geographical beauty of the Upper St. John River Valley while enjoying the unique local culture that includes nature,  arts and crafts, music and culinary expertise as well as featuring the beauty of the area in workshops and activities.

The Festival is launched with the Opening of Flora, 5-7 pm, at the Andrew  Laura McCain Art Gallery, 8 McCain Street, Florenceville-Bristol, NB on Thursday September 4, 2025.  Flora bridges art & nature through the art of nine Atlantic Artists who work in textiles, metal, ceramics, glass, plant fibre and wood. Many of whom will be teaching a workshop in their area over the pARTicipate weekend.

Workshops:

Eco Printing a Silk Scarf with Renata Britez | Sept 5 | 10:00AM – 4:00PM | River Art Centre

Bobbin Lace with Cat Candow | Sept 5 | 12:30PM – 3:30PM | Community Hall

RAC Carvers Carving Workshop with Adam McNamara | Sept 5 | 10:00AM -4:30PM | River Art Centre

Sip & Sing with Peter McLaughlin – “Something to Sing About” | Sept 5 | 7:00PM – 8:30PM | Second Wind Music Centre

Foraged Plant Fibre Basket Weaving with Ralph Simpson | Sept 6 | 9:00AM – 4:30PM | River Art Centre

Mosaics with Tim Issac | Sept 6 | 1:00PM – 4:00PM | “Bun” Veysey Active Living Centre

Steam Roller Printmaking Demonstration with Stephen Hutchings & Team | Sept 6 | Starts at 10:00AM |  Brennan Home Hardware

Clay Tile & Sculpture Workshops with Indu Varma | River Art Centre | Session #1 – Sept 6 | 3:00PM – 5:00PM |  Session #2  –  Sept 7 | 10:00AM – 12:00PM | Session #3 – Sept 7 | 1:00PM – 3:00PM 

Native Species Presentation with Andrea Flemming | Sept 7 | 11:30AM – 12:15PM | Community Hall

Printmaking with Plants – Nat Cann & Caitlin Wilson | Sept 7 |  1:00PM – 4:00PM | River Art Centre

Bookmaking with Meg Clark – Learn Clever Folding Techniques | Sept 7 | 12:00PM – 3:30PM | “Bun” Veysey Active Living Centre

Cooking at On The Boardwalk Café with Chef Bouwe Van der Hoek | Sept 7 | 2:30PM – 8:00PM | On The Boardwalk Cafe & Wine

Pop-Up Art Show | Sept 7 | 4:30PM – 6:00PM | River Art Centre 

Registration is required. For detailed information on workshops or to register, click here:   https://mccainartgallery.com/exhibitions/participate-arts-nature-festival/  or call the gallery at (506) 392-6769.