Leduc Art Walk set for July 18

LEDUC -- The Leduc Arts Foundry will be hosting its 2026 Art Walk this coming Saturday.

The showcase of local art will once again take place in downtown Leduc from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on July 18 along 50 Avenue, between 50 and 48 Streets. The event brings together artists, performers, makers, families, and visitors of all ages and features the annual artist marketplace, food vendors, and live entertainment. Leduc Arts Foundry Chair Teresa Creber provides a preview for this year's celebration.

"It's an arts festival that turns the downtown into a creative environment," said Creber. "We'll have our roving entertainers, our art critics who can draw your portrait, we have a caricature artist, and our storytime."

The 'Artful Storytelling' will bring together local community champions and guest readers to share a thoughtfully curated collection of art-themed stories. For this year, Leduc City Councillors Shawn Raymond and Laura Tillack will be featured as guest readers, along with former Councillor Beverley Beckett. There will also be face painting, indigenous beading, clay handbuilding, and more. 

As in years' past, the focal point of this year's Art Walk will be the artist marketplace, which gives local talent an opportunity to put their artwork on display for members of the public. There will also be live music throughout the day featuring a long list of Alberta musicians, starting with James Turner, who will open and close the day at 11:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

The Leduc Arts Foundry first opened its doors in 2016 with a vision to provide a home for local art groups, and has since grown into a thriving, diverse community arts centre. In addition to its annual Art Walk events, the Foundry also hosts everything from galas and curated gallery events to programming that supports emerging and established artists. Creber says their organization continues to evolve.

"It's really evolved to a massive presence in Leduc sharing arts and culture," said Creber. "The arts are not always supported, so it's really important to show the public that there's a place for everyone. We have mentor programs, we have ages from 1 to 100, there's really no restrictions for those who can try this."

For this year, the Foundry will be offering a total of 100 classes and workshops for members of the public, up from 99 last year and 25 during the 2023-2024 fiscal year.