Sustainability

For nearly sixty years, An Occasion for the Arts has brought art and community together in Williamsburg. Sustainability is part of ensuring the festival can continue to thrive for decades to come.

In 2022, we partnered with William & Mary’s Department of Sustainability through the Sustainability Ambassador Program to begin developing long-term environmental goals and a practical plan of action.

To us, sustainability means two things:

  • reducing our environmental impact

  • strengthening the community that sustains the festival

What We're Doing

We are working to:

  • reduce waste across the festival

  • encourage sustainable materials and practices among artists and vendors

  • gather data to better understand and improve our environmental impact

  • make it easier for visitors to choose lower-impact transportation options

These efforts are ongoing and evolving each year.

How You Can Help

Small actions make a difference. We encourage festival-goers to:

  • bring reusable shopping bags

  • carry refillable water bottles

  • recycle at the event

  • walk, bike, carpool, or use public transportation when possible

Long-Term Commitment

As we approach six decades of An Occasion for the Arts, we recognize that sustainability is not a one-time initiative — it is an ongoing responsibility.

We are committed to building a festival that supports artists, serves our community, and minimizes environmental impact for generations to come.

Get Involved

We welcome volunteers and community members who are interested in helping advance our sustainability efforts.

If you would like to be involved, please contact us or sign up to volunteer.

Together, we can ensure that An Occasion for the Arts continues to flourish:  responsibly and sustainably.