Meet York
Live Here
Work Here
Play Here
Blog

Spring Forward at The Parliament

At the Parliament in Royal Square, we’re excited that spring is here, even though it doesn’t feel like it while I write this.

Spring Forward at the Parliament

Guest blogger Kate Harmon tells you what to watch for this spring at The Parliament!

Sure it brings warmer temperatures and a chance for us to have concerts in our courtyard, complete with a drink from the Taste Test Cantina. But it’s also a chance for us to spruce up and show off what we’ve got going on this time of year.

First off, what’s the Parliament? We’re a nonprofit arts organization with a simple mission – Empowering artists. Our gallery at 116 E. King St., features six-week shows, and we run four large events throughout the year including our annual fundraiser Spring Forward – set for June 16.

Photo Credit: Kate Harmon

Kicking off on April First Friday, our gallery show Poetic Art paired poets and artists together to create and left the rest up to them. An opening reception was held during First Friday, and the show remains until mid-May. On its heels is our Lost Along the Way, a street finds show. You’ve seen random things on roads, sidewalks and alleys, but have you considered it art? Our participants will show you the art they find along the way, and some may even create art using what they’ve found. That show opens May 19.

We’re also gearing up for our annual fundraiser Spring Forward which is the largest art installation show of its kind in the region. Not only is it a night with great food, drink and music, but it’s a larger-than-life art show. Nine artists will be creating 10-foot-by-10-foot installations inspired by the work of our local sponsor organizations. This year, we’re also adding live installations that will be worked on throughout the evening while the guests watch. A silent auction will feature one piece of each exhibit that will be removed at the end of the night to go home with each winner.

Money raised at Spring Forward helps us further our mission by supporting artists with little to no cost to them. From free workshops that cover issues like insurance and public speaking, to waiving fees for them to participate in our events, we strive to eliminate barriers for local artists to be successful in their craft. By lifting them up, we lift the whole city.