Three Rivers Arts Festival canceled as Pittsburgh Cultural Trust extends suspensions

Another signature Pittsburgh event has been canceled.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announced Tuesday that the Three Rivers Arts Festival would be axed as the trust’s suspension of events was extended into mid-June because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“As we continue to follow the leadership of Gov. Wolf and our public health officials, it is with a heavy heart that we have come to the extremely difficult decision to suspend additional Pittsburgh Cultural Trust events, extending through June 14,” Robin Elrod, director of communications for the Cultural Trust, said in a statement.

“This extension affects two of our signature Festivals — the EQT Children’s Theater Festival and the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival. While we will not host the physical, in-person Festivals this year, we are working diligently to navigate the unprecedented circumstances and scarcer resources to produce digital spaces where we can gather to celebrate these iconic festivals.”

The Three Rivers Arts Festival was set to run June 5-14. The Children’s Theater Festival was set to run May 14-17.

“Please know that the Cultural Trust does not take a single cancellation, postponement, or closure lightly, as we recognize the effect that each and every event has on our region, our artists, and you, our supporters and fellow arts lovers,” Elrod said.