Rain or shine, two things are always on display at Penticton鈥檚 Ignite the Arts Festival: community and creativity.

And with light showers falling Saturday, March 23, on Martin Street, Ren茅e Matheson said those words couldn鈥檛 be more true.

鈥淚t鈥檚 creating a culture in the art world and creating community among the artists,鈥� Matheson, owner of Fine Art Gallery, said as she watched her gallery host Ignite the Arts鈥� Sculpture Day.

The festival鈥檚 Community Week is officially underway, as locals gathered on Saturday for the annual Art Walk and sculpture contest.

Pat Field, a renowned sculptor who lives in the South Okanagan, was among those eager to share his creativity with others.

鈥淎rt is about community,鈥� said Field, who designed the waterfall outside the Penticton Lakeside Resort. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about being creative and sharing it with others.鈥�

Field was joined by several other sculptors, including Aaron Grant, an ice carver whose work attracted the eyes of many next to the Fine Art Gallery. Live music and painting were also included as part of Saturday鈥檚 event on Martin Street.

The gathering marked Ignite the Arts鈥� first major event of Community Week, which will run until March 28, before Festival Weekend takes centre stage across the city from March 28 to 31.

鈥淚gnite the Arts is building momentum every year,鈥� Matheson said about the festival鈥檚 third edition. 鈥淧enticton is so beautiful, jammed in between two lakes and an event like this is so important to the city.鈥�

A full list of Ignite the Arts events can be found