Rooted in Art 2026

Charlottetown residents and visitors are invited to Rooted in Art 2026, a live nature-inspired outdoor art competition. This will be the seventh year of Rooted in Art, reimagined this year as an interactive experience where visitors can watch artists bring their creations to life at the Victoria Park Cultural Pavilion on September 12 from 10:30 am-2:30 pm. Eight local artists have been selected to compete, creating artwork inspired by trees in Victoria Park, an iconic Charlottetown greenspace. The artists will have three hours to complete their pieces. A panel of judges will award prizes of $1500 for first place, $1000 for second place, and $750 for third place. All other participating artists will receive a $500 honorarium. The public is encouraged to attend and experience a unique celebration of art and nature while supporting local artists. The eight artists competing in Rooted in Art 2026 are: Bobbi Kelly, Christina Patterson, Cynthia Gunsinger, Debra Wellner, Hank Bos, Kim Jabbour, Lyndsey Paynter, and Tara Bambauer. Alongside the main event, the public is encouraged to take part in Anything Grows. This is a secondary competition open to all, regardless of age and skill level. Participants will paint the same landscape as the featured artists competing in the main event. To enter Anything Grows, simply bring your art supplies, set up in the park near the event tent and start creating. Advance registration is not required; however, those who wish to skip the line may pre-register at Charlottetown.ca/Roots. The winner of the Anything Grows competition will receive a $100 gift card. Rooted in Art celebrates the vital role trees play in the urban environment. From their aesthetic beauty to the essential services trees provide-such as air purification, flood management, wind and noise buffering, and stormwater management-this initiative seeks to deepen the community's connection with nature and highlight the importance of the urban forest. Since its inception in 2020, Rooted in Art has captivated the community by pairing local artists with trees on public land in Charlottetown. Info: charlottetown.ca/roots.