The name may have changed, but the June 5 and 6 Eden Mills Arts Festival still offers a great opportunity to get a good look at the wide range of works of 18 village artists to be showcased.
That Saturday and Sunday the studios will be open from 11am to 5pm. For the past nine years the weekend event has been known as Art in Eden. Started in 2001 by Eden Mills artists Anna Simon, Lee Lang and Sharlotte Reinhold, it has been a successful spring event since 2006.
“The name change reflects the path we’ve chosen, to include more than just the visual arts,” said spokesman Michael Coull. “We are looking forward to including music, dance, theatre and a host of other artistic genres. We are also exploring the inclusion of classes from the many artists in Eden Mills.
Eden Mills is an old village on the Eramosa River, 10 minutes east of Guelph. There were several mills there a century ago and over the years there have been many businesses, all of which are gone except the old Coulson store, now the In a Heartbeat Art Gallery. It has 20 visual artists, authors, and artisans living in there.
It is also known for its Going Carbon Neutral program and the Eden Mills Writers’ Festival, now in its 22nd year.
The festival will be held on June 5 and 6, rain or shine. Visit www.guelpharts.ca/edenmillsartsfestival for directions, artists, and samples of their work.
There will be a welcome centre in the community hall, with examples of the artists’ work, directions to each studio, and a cafe. The village is small so visitors can walk to all the studios, dip their feet in the mill pond, and take the dog for a walk.
