2020-2021: A Shift – Skeleton Park Arts Festival

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT, May 2021:

As the Skeleton Park Arts Festival (SPAF) continues to offer free multi-arts programming aligned with public health recommendations, including SPAF! AT HOME, Skeleton Park People Project, and The Skeleton Press, we would like to give our community the “heads-up” that the annual outdoor summer solstice celebration in Skeleton Park is simply not in the cards again for this June 2021.

However, SPAF is excited to once again present the annual Next Door neighbourhood public art exhibition from June 16th to August 16th, 2021. This year’s exhibition will feature sculptures, paintings, performance art, and a wide array of other remarkable creations by local artists.

We are also planning on presenting ongoing pop-up public art and performances in our neighbourhood streets, parks and other public spaces throughout the summer, once we are given the green light to do so. Please keep an eye out for our e-newsletter, or visit skeletonparkartsfest.ca and our social media feeds for ongoing developments in our ever-evolving community arts programming.

Click here to view SPAF’s programming archive and see what we’ve been up to in 2021.

2020 FESTIVAL ANNOUNCEMENT

In communication with the City of Kingston, and in keeping with current public health recommendations, Skeleton Park Arts Festival will not be happening in McBurney Park as planned for June 17-21, 2020.

We know this news, while perhaps not unexpected, will come as a disappointment. The joy and community spirit we recognize every solstice in Skeleton Park is something really special, and we all feel that loss this year.

Instead of an in-person festival, we’ll be continuing with our SPAF! AT HOME programming, offering multi-disciplinary arts experiences online, celebrating and supporting Kingston’s vibrant community of artists, and, when it’s safe to do so, offering more intimate, pop-up events in person. We have been slowly growing SPAF into a year-round arts organization, and those efforts will be stronger in 2020 than ever before.

In spite of current circumstances, the days will grow longer and sunnier, just as they have every year. Because the celebration of summer solstice is at this festival’s roots, and given our ongoing commitment to recognizing National Indigenous People’s Day, we look forward to offering special online and neighbourhood programming on our usual festival weekend this June.

Until the next time we can gather for a three-legged race, musical parade, or dance party in the park, be well and stay in touch. We’ll see you soon.