MONTREAL -- Montreal's Gay Village has a lot going for it this summer, including an outdoor art fest, colorful fireworks and a pedestrian-only thoroughfare along Ste. Catherine Street.

Everyone's invited!

FUN PLAY ON WORDS

First up, the ninth edition of Festival International Montreal en Arts, or FIMA, turns Ste. Catherine Street into an open-air art gallery from today through Sunday.

"It's one kilometer of art from St. Hubert Street to Papineau Avenue," said Paul Haince, FIMA's president and founder. "And for the first time this year, we have the stamp of approval from Patrimoine Canada (Heritage Canada). That's a very good recognition. We're very happy."

Haince said the fest offers a fun play on words.

"It's no longer Ste. Catherine Street, it's Ste. Catherine BoulevArt."

This year, the festival boasts some 120 artists -- about 90 painters and sculptors and another 30 or so craftspeople who create métier d'art, including ceramics, jewelry, glass and wood pieces. The artists hail from throughout Quebec as well as the United States, France, Mexico and Barbados. Haince's main goal is to highlight the artists.

"I want to give a break to these new visual artists," he said. "They're the poor children of the arts. It's not always easy to be a young artist because it takes a long time to establish yourself and find that your work has gained in value. So the festival gives these young artists some good exposure."

BMO LOUNGE

A good place to start at the fest is the Park Amherst contemporary art tent, at Amherst and Ste. Catherine streets, which features the works of 22 "carefully selected" artists. Haince admires the work of artist Jaber Lufti.

"He's really terrific. His work is something special."

Another must stop is the Bank of Montreal lobby -- dubbed the BMO Lounge for the festival -- located at the corner of St. Catherine and Wolfe streets. Here, the space highlights emerging artists and last year's festival award winners. Also showcased on site at the festival and a few blocks away at Ecomusee du Fier Monde is Quebec artist Raoul Duguay, this year's FIMA spokesperson (see info below).

Haince expected some 50,000 visitors per day for the four-day event.