down east plein air
Pre-Festival Workshop
June 6, 2026
Festival & Art Show
June 26, 27, & 28, 2026
This in-person outdoor event brings together artists and art lovers for a relaxed and welcoming creative experience.
Whether you paint, sketch, collect art, or simply appreciate creativity, this festival offers a unique opportunity to connect, be inspired, and enjoy the natural beauty of Southeastern PEI.
Everyone is welcome!
Free to the public. There is a registration fee for artists.
Registered artists are eligible to participate in the Pre-Festival Plein Air Workshop and/or the Art Show (to exhibit, to sell, and/or to win awards), if they choose.
We welcome all artists, art collectors, and art lovers to enjoy the Festival and its spirit of creativity and connection.
plein air workshop
Workshop sold out - Class is full
June 6, 2026 - 9:30am
Murray River Library
We are pleased to welcome Island artist Julia Purcell as our guest teacher for 2026!
If you’ve never made art outdoors from life before….
Or if you’re looking to refresh and expand your skills before the Festival…
Artists of all levels of experience will benefit from the expert instruction of professional artist and art teacher Julia Purcell.
Julia will use sketching and oil painting for demonstrations in this workshop, but she has experience in many different media. Artists are asked to bring their own preferred medium, and use what supplies they already have, as the focus will not be about learning to paint or draw. Julia will help you learn how to best adapt your existing art practice to the opportunities and challenges of working en Plein Air.
The workshop will be held on June 6, 2026 starting at 9:30am, rain or shine. It will start at the Murray River Library, before we head outside (weather permitting) to apply what we’ve learned.
Materials and supplies are not included. The minimum required supplies are a sketchbook and pencil.
Bring a packed lunch, or plan to get takeout from one of the nearby restaurants.
This workshop is included with your Down East Plein Air Festival Pre-Registration Fee of $50, at no additional cost.
Sorry, sold out!
plein air festival
June 26, 27 & 28, 2026
For All Art Lovers
Artists of all levels are welcome, from beginners to professionals.
Art admirers and collectors are also invited!
Our artist-volunteers will be based at Murray River Community Hall from 8am to 5pm each day.
This is where plein air artists can register and check in, get their blank canvases stamped each day before they create new artwork (this is required to participate in the Art Show), learn about our recommended location for that day, and pick up maps and lists of local amenities.
This is also where registered artists will bring their pre-stamped artworks back on the same day, if they want to participate in the Art Show – to display their artworks, to offer pieces for sale if desired, and to be eligible to win awards.
Each morning we will direct artists – and art lovers – from the Murray River Community Hall to specific locations nearby.
Our featured locations include: a secluded pond surrounded by woodland, a working wharf in a charming fishing village, and historic lighthouses perched above red cliffs and sandy beaches. We can also direct you to tidal estuaries, coastal farmland, rolling hills, scenic dirt roads, nature trails, and other hidden gems.
You don’t have to make art to enjoy the event: come enjoy the view, watch the artworks being created live on site, connect directly with artists, browse the new art on display in the Art Show, and enjoy the welcoming spirit of our creative community.
art show
Exhibition & Art Sale
The Down East Plein Air Art Show will be set up in the Murray River Community Hall, open until 5pm on June 26, 27, and 28, 2026.
Free to the public, all welcome.
Qualifying artworks (created during the event, by registered artists) will be offered for sale by some artists, so you can bring home a fresh visual reminder of our beautiful corner of the Island.
To qualify for the Art Show (to exhibit, to sell their work (if desired), and to be eligible for awards): artists are required to register, to get their blank canvases stamped before creating their plein air artwork each day, and to bring back the artwork on the same day it was stamped.
Participating artists can choose to sell art directly to collectors (no commission) at the Art Show, or they may mark their pieces as not for sale.
Artworks in the Art Show will be eligible to win awards on Sunday, June 28, based on the assessments of our guest judge Julia Purcell.
Participation in the Art Show is optional, and we also welcome artists who aren’t interested in exhibiting, selling, or competing. We hope many attending artists will share their work, so we can celebrate everyone’s creativity and get inspired.
awards
Guest Judge: Julia Purcell
First prize: $500
Second prize: $250
Third prize: $100
Qualifying artworks on display in the Art Show will be judged by professional Island artist Julia Purcell at 2pm on Sunday, June 28.
The Art Show at the Murray River Community Hall will temporarily be closed to artists and the public while the professional judging takes place.
Artists names will not be shown on the front of artworks or labels, so the art can be assessed without knowing who made which piece.
Please note: if an artwork is removed (by the artist or buyer) from the Art Show before judging, it will not be assessed or eligible for awards.
All weekend, we will also display a selection of pre-existing artwork by our guest judge Julia Purcell at the Murray River Community Hall, for the enjoyment of those who attend the Art Show.
registration
Participation fee for artists
Artists of all levels are welcome, from beginners to professionals.
There is a registration fee for artists. Registered artists may participate in the Pre-Festival Plein Air Workshop on June 6, to exhibit and sell their artwork, and to be eligible to win awards in the Down East Plein Air Festival Art Show.
Pre-register online to save $10, until June 19, 2026:
Send $50 by e-transfer to municipalityofmurrayriver@gmail.com
Payment must be received before May 29 to participate in the Pre-Festival Workshop with Julia Purcell.
OR register at the Festival:
$60 cash-only upon signing in on June 26, 27, or 28.
OR register at the Festival:
$60 cash-only upon signing in on June 26, 27, or 28.
Benefits of registering
Early-bird bonus: Pre-registration by May 29 also gives you the option to attend Julia Purcell’s Pre-Festival Plein Air Workshop on June 6, which is more than a $50 value by itself.
Participate in the Art Show: Registration also qualifies you to get your canvases and surfaces stamped before you create your art. Once you’ve created your plein air art, your pre-stamped artworks must be returned on the same day to be eligible for display in the Art Show.
No commission on sales: In the Art Show, eligible artworks can be offered for sale by artists, if desired. We will not be processing payment for artworks this year, so sales can be negotiated directly between artist and collector, with 100% of the purchase price going to the artist.
Awards: Qualifying artworks on display in the Art Show will be assessed by our panel of judges on Sunday, June 28 after 2pm, and prizes will be awarded.
Support the event: Proceeds from registration fees will cover our hall rental expenses, art show award prizes, and honorariums for our Instructor and Judges. Any remainder will be set aside for next year’s event, as we plan to make this an annual tradition!
scenic down east
Snapshots of Murray River, Murray Harbour, Cape Bear, and neighbouring areas
Murray River is located:
- 54 km from Charlottetown
- 18 km from Montague
- 96 km from Cavendish
- 118 km from Summerside
- 64 km from Souris Ferry Terminal
- 115 km from the Confederation Bridge at Borden-Carleton
- 24 km from Wood Islands Ferry Terminal via recommended detour of Route 315 North, to Route 24 South to Murray River (due to road closure for bridge replacement on Shore Rd/Route 4)
overview
Who?
Artists of all levels are welcome, from beginners and hobbyists to professionals.
We also invite art lovers, including collectors and anyone who is curious to watch how art gets made.
Why?
Come out to enjoy and support the visual arts in a beautiful rural coastal setting.
Discover breath-taking scenery, get inspired, and connect with the local artistic community.
When & where?
Pre-festival workshop:
June 6 from 9:30am
Starting at
Murray River Public Library
1066 MacInnis St,
Murray River, PE, Canada,
and nearby locations outside.
Festival and Art Show:
June 26, 27, & 28 from 8am to 5pm
Starting at
Murray River Community Hall
1084 MacInnis St,
Murray River, PE, Canada,
and nearby locations outside.
What does it cost?
The event is free for the public.
There is a registration fee for artists.
$50 pre-registration by e-transfer until June 19.
(Payment must be received by May 29 to participate in the Pre-Festival Plein Air Workshop on June 6.)
OR $60 cash-only at check-in on June 26, 27, or 28.
about us
This event is organized by a committee of volunteers
We believe that art is for everyone to create and to appreciate, and we know how much artists benefit from spending time with other artists in creative community.
We are members of the informal artist group Art & Soul, who meet weekly from September to May to make art together in the village of Murray River. We work with diverse mediums, including drawing, oils, acrylics, watercolours, and fibre arts. Our members range from hobbyists and beginners, to emerging artists, to established professionals.
To learn more or to join us, please contact Lorraine Vatcher of Red Cliff Gallery in Little Sands.
This event would not be possible without the support of the council of Rural Municipality of Murray River, and lots of help and expertise from Chief Administration Officer extraordinaire Connie Spencer!
contact us
For questions about registration fee payment or venues, please contact Connie Spencer at the office of Rural Municipality of Murray River:
Email: municipalityofmurrayriver@gmail.com
Phone: 902-741-2009
For all other inquiries, please contact our artist-volunteers at:
Email: info@downeastpleinair.com
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