Following the sell-out success of its inaugural festival in August 2025, Art Faoin Aer 2026 returns as a weekend plein air visual arts festival and competition at Belvedere House and Gardens, with opening and post-festival events across Westmeath. Led by Westmeath-based designer and artists Andrea Cullen, Hilary Kinahan, Richie Clarke and Tommy Bolger, the festival brings together up to fifty artists to participate in the plein air competition, alongside musicians, facilitators, and local partners, within a Creative Village setting that creates opportunities for the public to engage directly with live artistic practice. <\/p>\n
Art Faoin Aer aims to increase public access to visual arts, support artists in the Midlands, and strengthen connections between artists, audiences, cultural venues, and local businesses. The programme includes a public launch event, a two-day festival where artists create work on site in response to the landscape, and a Creative Village offering workshops, demonstrations, and public participation. Free sketchbooks and materials encourage hands-on engagement, while live music and a live broadcast extend the festival\u2019s reach. A dedicated Children and Youth strand offers free participation alongside a parent or guardian. Post festival events across the county include exhibitions and artist talks, extending engagement and impact.<\/p>\n