Established in 1974, Artpark is a collaboration between New York State Parks and the cultural nonprofit institution Artpark & Company. As a National Historic Landmark, the picturesque 150-acre performing and visual arts park is located along the historic Niagara River Gorge on land rich in Native American, pioneer, and early American history.
Artpark & Company recently kicked off its 2021 season with the launch of interactive tour Sonic Trails. With a hyper-local and equally global perspective, Sozo Creative and Artpark have brought together some of the most influential BIPOC voices in music – the Holladay Brothers, Kronos Quartet, Rhiannon Giddens and Yo-Yo Ma, Indigenous artists curated by Michele-Elise Burnett, and DJ Spooky – to cultivate aural experiences exploring the unique geological and historic site of the Earl W. Brydges Artpark State Park located just seven miles from the Niagara Falls. Throughout the summer, audiences will have the opportunity to explore Artpark to the accompaniment of a variety of artistic worlds for free, right in their own pockets – an immersive choose-your-own-adventure.
The season also includes a concert series held at the Artpark Ampitheater, featuring Blackberry Smoke (July 1), Fitz and the Tantrums (July 6), Brothers Osborne (August 3), Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (August 20), Wilco + Sleater-Kinney (August 26), and Glass Animals (August 30). Additional concerts are yet to be announced.
Artpark’s New Music in the Park is an eclectic outdoor music series running June 13 through August 22 that features world, jazz, chamber, and percussion music presented on the grounds of the park. Not only will these events be the perfect antidote for cabin fever, but they also reflect Artpark’s commitment to presenting world-class artists that challenge audiences to open their minds (and hearts) to new sounds and experiences.
Free Family Saturdays is Artpark’s most beloved long-lasting family program. Afternoons are filled with creative hands-on discovery and live performances for all ages. A variety of “make and take” themed workshops are available at each and every installment of Family Saturdays. Also featured weekly are these self-directed play spaces: Paint Space, Costume Closet, Sand Mountain, Face Paint, Pottery Wheel, and Clay Hand Building.
Additional programs throughout the summer include the Fairy House Festival on June 12; Strawberry Moon Festival on June 19; Movies in the Park, featuring Julie Taymor’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and a lineup of over twenty film screenings; dance, theatre, circus, and children’s performances; interactive installations; and camps and family programs. Artpark is a National Wildlife Federation Backyard Wildlife Habitat, a National Audubon Society birding site (along the Niagara River Corridor), and a popular destination for hiking, picnics, and fishing.
For more information or to make reservations, visit https://www.artpark.net/.
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