EQT Pittsburgh International Children's Festival Set for 5/14-18 in Cultural District

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announces the EQT Pittsburgh International Children's Festival, now celebrating its 28th year, will be held May 14? 18, 2014 in its new location: the Cultural District, downtown Pittsburgh. The festival is programmed by Pittsburgh International Children's Theater, a division of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

In addition to the Festival moving downtown, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has announced EQT Foundation, the charitable affiliation of EQT Corporation, as the new lead sponsor of the 2014 Pittsburgh International Children's Festival.

"The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is excited and proud to be presenting this year's EQT Pittsburgh International Children's Festival in a new location ? the Cultural District. Thirty years ago having this festival downtown would have been impossible," commented J. Kevin McMahon, President and CEO ? Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. "The Cultural District is also home to the Trust's other free festivals that are presented each year, and adding the Children's Festival to this list continues the Cultural Trust's mission of bringing diverse, professional programming to the District for everyone to enjoy. We are grateful for the generous support of the EQT Foundation."

"A priority of the EQT Foundation is supporting local initiatives designed to give the area's youth more exposure to artistic programming, while promoting an understanding and appreciation of the diverse culture and heritage throughout our region," said Charlene Petrelli, President, EQT Foundation. "EQT takes pride in supporting educational programs that focus on providing our area children with extraordinary and unique experiences, and the EQT Pittsburgh Children's International Festival promises to do just that and more this year."

This year's EQT Pittsburgh International Children's Festival features ticketed performances by artistic companies from Canada, Denmark, Israel, Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States along with a variety of free events happening throughout the Cultural District. Theater venues include the Byham Theater, Trust Arts Education Center, Bricolage Theater and August Wilson Center. The new Festival grounds footprint couples the unique food options, galleries, pop-up green and outdoor spaces of the Cultural District with the familiar free hands-on activities, free roving performances, and free stages of the EQT Pittsburgh International Children's Festival. Special street closures, crossing and security guards, and signage will be in place during the Children's Festival to help all visitors coming to the events. Sensory-friendly events during this year's festival include outdoor luminarium Miracoco (Architects of Air, United Kingdom) and all performances of Little Steps (Teater My, Denmark).

"We couldn't be more thrilled with a new location for the 28th EQT Pittsburgh International Children's Festival. As the Pittsburgh International Children's Theater continues to grow, we remain dedicated to engaging audiences with different cultures, perspectives, and mediums of expression. A move to the Cultural District brings with it distinct opportunities for children to experience live theater and express themselves through art," comments Pamela K. Lieberman, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's Manager ? Children's Theater Programming and Executive Director ? Pittsburgh International Children's Theater.

LilyPad Park, 8th Street at Penn Avenue, will feature a free outdoor community stage. The stage will be programmed with culturally diverse acts that are sure to engage young audiences. Performances by local and regional artists will keep the stage active daily during Festival hours. Roving artists, and over 30 free, hands-on educational and cultural activities will be part of the Festival's free offerings.

Sensory-friendly events during this year's festival include outdoor luminaries Miracoco (Architects of Air, United Kingdom) and all performances of Little Steps(Teater My, Denmark).

For information about parking lots and garages in the Cultural District, visit www.ParkPGH.org.

A limited number of prepaid parking vouchers for parking at Theater Square Parking Garage, entrance located on 7th Street, are available at a discounted price. Call 412-456-6666 for more information.

The Cultural District is serviced by public transportation options through the Port Authority of Allegheny County. For more information, visithttp://www.TrustArts.org/visit/public_transportaion/

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