Welcome to
Central Park
& the Glebe

Art in the Park has enjoyed a long relationship with Central Park in the Glebe. In 1992 the festival was founded by Ottawa artist Bhat Boy to provide opportunities for emerging artists. Originally known as Art in the Park, it began as a grassroots event with local artists gathering in Central Park for a day of visual art, music, picnicking, and merriment under the now-extinct huge maple tree in the middle of the lower park.

In 2009, under the direction of Chandler Swain, the festival’s name changed and its criteria focused on exhibiting handmade, original, one-of-a-kind artworks. The New Art Festival also became juried to maintain a high calibre event and to honour the artists who remain committed to their craft and to the creation of one-of-a-kind artworks. Partnerships with local art businesses and enthusiasts resulted in awards that recognize several of these artists each year.

We needed something that was “grassroots”.

The original name ~ Art in the Park ~ returns to further encompass the original ethos coupled with what has grown and evolved since 2009. The festival is Ottawa’s original, highly anticipated juried outdoor art exhibit.

Featuring 150-200 artists, this two-day event continues to inspire and engage people of all ages. The Art in the Park Festival is a non-profit event that remains committed to its grassroots beginnings and takes pride in creating a community that artists and visitors return to year after year.

Every year we celebrate original art and the amazing people who create it!

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What better place to hold a festival but in one of Ottawa’s original neighbourhoods ~
The Glebe!

Not only is the Glebe a great place to enjoy an urban lifestyle, but its central location and many charms are congruent with the caché of the Art in the Park Festival. One can arrive at the Festival on foot, on a bicycle, by OC Transpo bus, or by car.