SLC Arts is excited to announce the Third Annual North Country Arts Festival, a 10-day, county-wide celebration of art, culture, and community. From captivating performances to awe-inspiring exhibitions, the festival encourages tourism and economic activity throughout St. Lawrence County by showcasing our arts industry, a critical component of our regional identity.
The festival will continue with a Folklife Celebration held by TAUNY on the Canton Village Green on Friday, August 25th, along with a morning Plein Air Workshop in Potsdam.
On Saturday, August 26th, the Madrid Dam Music series will hold their second annual Madrid Music on Porches Day throughout the village of Madrid. Later that evening, the Ives Park Concert Series will showcase Miss Angie’s Music in Potsdam, with a pop-up exhibition presented by the North Country Children’s Museum at the park. A screening of Labyrinth, in partnership with Cinema 10, will immediately follow.
An Arts Wellness Day will be held in Ives Park on Sunday, August 27th, featuring yoga and fitness classes, free drop-in community art workshops, trance drumming, and more! Online registration required for some activities.
The Art/Work Speaker series will feature Joshua Barkley on Monday, August 28th at the Potsdam Public Library. Art/Work is a free monthly speaker series that focuses on the arts economy of the North Country.
Tuesday, August 29th will feature a Remington Plein Air Talk and Tea at the Frederic Remington Museum in Ogdensburg. Later that evening, Poetry with Purpose, a free monthly series that highlights a local author and brings an offering of literature that links to activism, advocacy, or our North County history, will feature Talking Rivers, an organization that is advocating for the Rights (Rites) of the Rivers that bring life to the entire North Country, at the Potsdam Public Library.
St. Lawrence University’s Brush Gallery will hold an opening reception for their Environment, Health, and the Body in Traditional Paintings from Contemporary India Exhibition curated by Dr. Chandreyi Basu, Associate Professor of Art & Art History, St. Lawrence University on Wednesday, August 30th in Canton.
On Thursday, August 31st, SLC Arts will showcase their Creatives Rebuild New York Artists, a cohort of 9 total artists working alongside the two organizations through a grant funded Artist Employment Program.
On Friday, September 1st, a Pop-Up Solo Exhibition will take place at Five Elements Living, along with an Art Trail in the greater Colton area. The Regional Arts Celebration, recognizing the 2023 State Community Regrants recipients and Arts Recognition Award winner, Becky Harblin, will take place at the Dobisky Center in Ogdensburg.
Saturday, September 2nd will feature Potsdam Porchfest and a new, integrated Art Market that will partner both musicians and vendors at locations on the PorchFest trail. Later that evening, the Ives Park Concert Series will close out the festival, featuring a line-up of local hardcore/punk bands at the Ives Park Gazebo. A screening of Back to the Future, in partnership with Cinema 10, will immediately follow in the park.
Throughout the Arts Festival, SLC Arts will be holding a Plein Air Festival, including painting days at various farms and food businesses. Each location will be assigned one day during this time where painters can gather and paint the scenery on-site. Then, during Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Local Foods Weekend (Sept 8-10), the finished paintings will be displayed on-site for the public to view during farm tours. Online registration required.
Join us in celebrating the vibrant arts community during the 3rd annual North Country Arts Festival by becoming a Friend of the Festival! As a Friend, you will play a vital role in supporting the North Country Arts Festival and ensuring its continued success. Your contribution will directly impact the diverse range of artists and performers who bring joy and inspiration to our region. By becoming a Friend of the Festival, you’ll receive a NoCoAF sticker and special benefits at each giving level. Visit the SLC Arts website to donate!
SLC Arts would like to thank our sponsors for the 2023 North Country Arts Festival: Brookfield Renewables, Citizens Advocates, and the Associated Colleges of the St. Lawrence Valley. If your business or organization is interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact Co-Executive Director, Maggie McKenna, at maggie@slcartscouncil.org.
To learn more about the North Country Arts Festival and to see exact dates, locations, and times, visit: slcartscouncil.org/nocoartsfest