Three Rivers Arts Festival is now open — in the virtual world

As the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival goes virtual this year, the focus is on a new group of creative people — those who are creating digital content that will bring a different kind of festival experience to the public.

“Usually, the digital team is marginally involved in the festival,” says Sarah Aziz, festival director for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. “Every year, we have a micro-site, but nothing like this. The digital team and visual artists really stepped up and did an incredible job.

Because of restrictions mandated by the covid-19 pandemic, artists, performers and vendors will not be filling their usual spots in Point State Park, Gateway Center and Pittsburgh’s Cultural District from June 5-14. But their wares will be available online, along with a variety of other special features designed to offer the next best thing to the in-person experience.

In a typical 10-day festival, more than 350 artists rotate through the juried Artist Market during six sessions. This year, all artists will be featured throughout the 10 days on the website “to give each artist as much exposure as possible,” Aziz says.

The Artist Market will be displayed as a virtual map, with each medium contained in its own “neighborhood,” making it easy for visitors to shop for ceramics, paintings, jewelry or other media of choice.

In each category, individual artists will have a section, with thumbnail photo, name and business name, six images of their work and links to their websites or other sales platforms. Visitors will be able to click a heart icon next to the artist’s profile to create a favorites list.

“We’re anticipating that people will want to come back more than once to look at the work, so this will make it easier for them to keep track of their favorites while they shop,” Aziz says.

The Trust put out an open call for artists from October through January, with a $35 application fee, Aziz says. Artists also pay a booth fee for their on-site space. The Trust is not charging a fee for the virtual space or taking any commission from sales.

Music and more

A variety of livestreamed and pre-recorded music, dance and literary art performances also will be available.

The Dollar Bank Digital Main Stage livestream schedule, planned for 7:30 p.m. each day, includes:

• June 5 – Josh Verbanets and Rick Sebak with musical guests

• June 6 – 91.3 WYEP FM presents Buffalo Rose and Inez

• June 7 – Dance Battle 5 with DJ Inception

• June 8 – holding pattern by slowdanger

• June 9 – Thomas Wendt Quintet

• June 10 – Social Justice Disco with Liz Berlin and Phat Man Dee, featuring Deryck Tines, HollyHood and more

• June 11 – Byron Nash and Brittney Chantele

• June 12 – Liberty Magic @ Home: Derek Hughes and Nathan Christopher

• June 13 – PHILLTER Music Showcase: Live-Loopers, One-Human Bands and more

• June 14 – Meeting of Important People

The livestreams also will be recorded for later viewing.

Interactive art

Other visual and interactive art experiences will include:

• A number of films offered for free streaming at home during the festival’s 10-day run.

• Giant Eagle Creativity Zone, a virtual gathering place with hands-on activities and artist demonstrations for all ages, including live-streamed glass-blowing from Pittsburgh Glass Center.

• “Compass Roses: Maps by Artists,” a selection of maps created by 20 diverse visual, literary and performing artists.

• “Transverse: The Juried Visual Art Exhibition,” 51 works from 40 artists selected by a panel of jurors that seek to “explore ideas about altered realities, utopias and challenging the status quo.”

• “The Anthropology of Motherhood: Culture of Care,” work by 10 artists exploring the complex visual, material, emotional, corporeal and lived experiences of motherhood, caregiving, parenting, nurturing and maternal labor.

Food trucks

Organizers haven’t forgotten that food is an important part of the festival experience, Aziz says.

“We’re hoping to have food trucks parked in different neighborhoods in different days and to advertise that,” she says. “We’re looking into the possibilities of having some of the local brick-and-mortar restaurants having a special lunch box or some sort of ode to TRAF.”

The Trust also has created a limited-edition, virtual festival T-shirt available through June 14. The shirt will be sent to those making a first-time donation of $30 to the Trust, or with larger donations that also include various other perks.

Details: trustarts.org/TRAF