ARTS PLANNING IS UNDERWAY FOR A HYBRID 2021 DOLLAR BANK THREE RIVERS ARTS FESTIVAL BY JAKE MYSLIWCZYK - PITTSBURGH CURRENT VISUALS EDITOR
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announced Tuesday that planning is underway for the 2021 Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival. The 62nd annual celebration of the arts, slated for June 4-13, is built for our times– offering a hybrid guest experience that combines enhanced virtual presentations with select in-person, limited-capacity attractions. “We are thrilled to be bringing back components of in-person gathering to the Festival this year, while building upon what we learned about virtual Festival elements in 2020,” says Sarah Aziz, Director of the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival and Festival Management for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. “As we work through these exciting plans to return to in-person events, we are committed first and foremost to the health and safety of our guests, staff, volunteers, and artists. We hope our temporary adjustments to the Festival format in 2021 will satisfy our fans’ deep desire to return to the Cultural District while also ensuring that we keep everyone as safe as possible.” While specific programs, presentations, and schedule will be available at a later date, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and Dollar Bank are pleased to be able to confirm at this time that the Festival will go on in 2021 in the safest and most enjoyable
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format possible. VIRTUAL EVENTS The Festival’s virtual offerings, which will be available at TrustArts.org/TRAF and via select Pittsburgh Cultural Trust social media channels, will incorporate innovations from the first-ever virtual Festival in 2020, plus some new enhancements to be announced closer to Festival dates. All aspects of the Festival, including any tentative in-person attractions, will also be available online in order to maximize access for everyone who wishes to be part of the Festival.
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IN-PERSON EVENTS In-person, limited-capacity events – all of which are subject to change based upon disease dynamics and changing guidance of our government and health and safety experts – will be presented at indoor and outdoor locations in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District. No events will take place in Point State Park and Gateway Center in 2021. These new locations, to be announced at a later date, were chosen because of the ability for greater attendance control and the ability to meet specific health and safety protocols
within the Festival space. In-person, limited-capacity events will remain free to attend, but will require advance registration and timed entry. The attractions operating in this manner are subject to change, but may include the Artist Market, select music concerts, film, and various indoor and outdoor visual art exhibitions. Capacity limits, registration processes, and other guest experience expectations will be detailed closer to the Festival. The Festival’s full lineup of events will be released closer to Festival dates.