Art will soon spill into the streets of Bathurst as the BayBreeze Art Gallery prepares to host its annual Plein Air Art Festival, which is an outdoor celebration of creativity and community that invites artists to capture the world in real time.

This year’s event, taking place on August 9th and 10th at the NB Distillery, is part of a long standing partnership between the BayBreeze Art Gallery and the Miramichi Art Core. Known collectively as Art Tells Stories, the two organizations alternate hosting duties for this vibrant festival each year. This year, it’s Bathurst’s turn.

The rules for the Plein Air Art Festival are quite interesting: artists must paint what they see, on location, with no pre-sketched work or reference photos. It’s an exercise in immediacy and interpretation.

Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Artists will paint until 4 p.m. Saturday and until 1:30 p.m. Sunday, when they’ll return to the distillery to set up their completed works for exhibition and sale. At 2 p.m., a panel of three judges will select a winner for the Choice Award, with prizes including a Pinkerton easel and pastels provided by members of the Miramichi Art Core.

The entry fee is $65. While sales fluctuate from year to year, the real reward is in the experience. Painting alongside peers, engaging with the public, and finding fresh inspiration in a communal setting.

“We’re hoping to have close to 20 participants this year,” says Rita May Gates. “We’ve already got artists registered from across New Brunswick, and we’ve even had participants from as far as Calgary and Ontario in the past.”

The event will also help draw attention to the NB Distillery, a local venue partnering with the gallery to provide space at no cost, which is a generous gesture that supports both art and tourism.

Though the Plein Air Art Festival is a big event, BayBreeze Art Gallery is active year-round. Run entirely by volunteers and supported by memberships, fundraising, and a city grant, the gallery provides a space for local and regional artists to display and sell their work. Membership is open to everyone, not just artists, and comes with opportunities to exhibit, vote, or volunteer in various capacities.

As Bathurst’s only dedicated art gallery within a 100-kilometer radius, BayBreeze plays a vital role in the region’s cultural landscape. Its ongoing mission is to foster creativity, connection, and community.For more information or to register for the Plein Air event, visit the BayBreeze Art Gallery website here: baybreezeart.ca

New members and volunteers are always welcome.