HOLYOKE — The inaugural Holyoke Paper Festival is set to bring a one-day celebration of art, paper, and place to downtown Holyoke on Saturday, June 7 at the De La Luz Soundstage, 114 Race St.

This new event celebrates Holyoke’s unique identity as the Paper City, once producing an estimated 80% of the writing paper used in the U.S. during the late 1800s. Today, artists and community members continue to be inspired by Holyoke’s history of innovation, its vibrant arts scene, and its powerful connection to the Connecticut River and the land of the Pocomtuc, Agawam, and Nonotuck peoples.

Festival attendees can look forward to a full day of programming including a fine art exhibition, interactive workshops, guest speakers, local tours, and more, all highlighting the legacy and future of paper as a creative medium. Entries to the art exhibition have been received from artists across the country, underscoring Holyoke’s national significance in paper and printmaking culture.

The Holyoke Paper Festival is made possible by support from MassDevelopment, the Holyoke Local Cultural Council, Holyoke Community College, and local business and property owners.

To learn more about the festival or to get involved as a sponsor, volunteer, or donor, visit www.holyokepaperfestival.com for the latest updates and details.

HOLYOKE — Taber Art Gallery, in partnership with Holyoke Art, requests applications for volunteers and partners interested in planning the first Holyoke Paper Festival. Set to take place over four days in late May in downtown Holyoke, this fine-art festival will feature exhibitions, workshops, lectures, and celebrations of the medium of paper and Holyoke’s history as the Paper City.

Organizers hope this becomes an annual event, a staple of the Western Mass. region, as well as a forum for art and dialogue on contemporary issues through the presentation of art made in, with, of, and about paper.

Anyone interested can apply at taber.fillout.com/hpf-planning. Applications are limited to adults in the Northeast region who are able to occasionally meet in person for planning meetings and regularly attend virtual planning meetings, and are committed to being in-person for the duration of the festival.