Moncton’s annual Festival Inspire will be hitting the murals for the fourth time from July 9th to 14th. Throughout Moncton’s downtown area, festival-goers will once again have the opportunity to engage with art of all genres, locally and internationally, and will be presented with fan-favourite, free-of-charge activities, such as the Colour Party paint fight.
This year, a new addition to the festival will be Art in The Dark, a widespread, evening-time flash mob of creativity. Forty-five artists will be putting their skills to work from 8pm-2am as they decorate Moncton’s inner city with the likes of street theatre, paper turned flora, multimedia projections, and interactive sculptures.
Attendees can also look forward to guided tours of the various murals; an Art Bazaar; the well-received Disco Bike Ride through Moncton, for which cyclists ride armed with a specially-made disco broadcast and in flamboyant colours; and even Inspire Land, a space dedicated for children while the adults can enjoy a brew at the craft beer village.
The multi-faceted celebration is largely accessible in both activities and financing, according to festival Director Lisa Griffin.
“We have partnered with Parkindale Productions and Future Forest Festival for an exciting music line-up, but also with associations like CUPE, Alliance Française de Moncton and the Repair Café to offer talks, workshops, bilingual karaoke and more for 6 days only. Everything is free except the bar that will offer local drinks with the best terrace and the best view on the river in town,” said Griffin.
While the festival largely revolves around the more local artists, Inspire will be showcasing some international talent as well, such as Maye, a French artists with a very mechanical aesthetic; comedic hand letterers Conzo and Glöbel from Glasgow, Scotland; and geometric/spiritual painter Miles Toland, who will be joining the festival from New Mexico, U.S.
Coming from within the province this year will be artists Lysanne Lombard and Chelsea Gauvin of Moncton, and Gabrielle Brown of Saint John. And from elsewhere in Canada, artists Danaé Brissonet of Quebec and Mique Michelle of Ontario will be leaving their mark on the city.
The festival will also continue with its eco-friendly attitude. It relies on recycling for the creation of facilities and sets, and ensures all spray cans are chosen based on the frailty of their ecological footprint. In addition, attendees are encouraged to bring their old, used clothes as templates to be turned into festival merchandise, as textile industries (or industries in general, for that matter) tend to do considerable damage to the environment.