Arts Festival Brings Green Message Downtown

The Three Rivers Arts Festival began in downtown Pittsburgh today.

The festival is weaving together several themes, including environmentalism and the interaction of the arts and technology.

Pittsburgh Cultural Trust spokeswoman Lauren Bracey says it’s a great coincidence that World Environment Day will happen during the festival.

“We didn’t have to become a green festival; we already were a green festival,” says Bracey.

She says for the past few years, the Three Rivers Arts Festival has sorted recyclables from trash and compost. Bracey says last year, more than 50 tons of garbage were recycled or composted, instead of being put in the trash stream.

Bracey says Guster, one of today’s most environmentally engaged bands, will play tomorrow night. Other music acts include the Dirty Dozen Brass Band on Sunday, the Venezuelan disco group Los Amigos Invisibles on Wednesday, and songwriter Kris Kristofferson on Friday night.

About 320 different artists will showcase their work in the artists’ market over the course of the festival. Bracey says the festival board also responded to patrons’ demand for more visual arts by bringing back a juried exhibition at the Trust Arts Education Center on Liberty Avenue.

Visit the Arts Festival website for more information.

Three Rivers Arts Festival, from June 5th to 14th

The Three Rivers Arts Festival gets its start tomorrow for its 50th annual run. With new ownership by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and the reopening of Point State Park, it will be a very exciting year, says Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Spokesperson Veronica Corpuz. She says there will be a great continuity between the park, Gateway Plaza, where the artist market booths are, and the various venues throughout the Cultural District. Corpuz says there will be more than 500 artists, along with many musical acts and other various activities.