PAUL SMITHS — The Paul Smith’s College’s Visitors Interpretive Center announced on Wednesday the return of the Science Art Music Festival (SAM Fest) to the VIC this Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m.

The theme for this year is “Earth Canvas: Art and Climate Change.”

SAM Fest will feature host Martha Foley, special guest presenter Suzanne S. Rancourt, Dr. Curt Stager, Michale Glennon and others to enjoy music, visual arts and engaging TED-style talks.

Foley was a familiar voice on North Country Public Radio as a prior morning co-host, partnering with Stager on weekly conversations exploring questions about the natural world on Natural Selections. Rancourt is a poet, author and veteran with a diverse cultural background of Abenaki, Huron, Quebecois and Scottish descent. Rancourt is also a multi-modal expressive arts therapist. Her award-winning poetry, non-fiction and fiction have appeared in a host of books, journals and magazine publications.

As director of the VIC, van Laer aims to encourage widespread community participation with new interactions included with this year’s festival.

“We are excited to launch a new feature inspired by the 20-Dollar Art Show Extravaganza at the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon,” he said.

This festival is supported by Northern Power and Light and NCPR.

Small works from local artists will be available for purchase with proceeds supporting VIC programming. There will also be an array of audience participatory activities, including trivia, giveaways and contests.

For more information about SAM Fest, visit www.paulsmithsvic.org or email vic@paulsmiths.edu.