Flame Tree Arts Festival returns to Civic Center

  The Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture is prepping up for the upcoming Annual Flame Tree Arts Festival, which returns to its original schedule and venue this year.

The event, slated for April 20 to 22 at the Civic Center park in Susupe, marks the 31st anniversary of the CNMI’s biggest annual festival.

Flame Tree Arts Festival celebrates the rich art and cultural heritage of the Commonwealth and takes place usually in late April in time for the blossoming of flame tree flowers after which the event was named.

Citing the late blooming of flame trees in the CNMI, the festival’s 30th anniversary last year was moved to June 9 to 12 at the American Memorial Park. Due to logistics constraints, however, the Flame Tree Arts Festival Committee has decided to move it back to April at the Civic Center.

The annual festival features a wide selection of artwork from CNMI registered and non-registered artists-traditional or contemporary-using different mediums and with varied price ranges.

The event also showcases presentations by local and guest performing groups and musicians, art demonstrations, and an array of festival food favorites.

The organizing committee, through overall chair Parker Y. Yobei, noted that they will strictly implement a ban on the sale of imported products or those that were not assembled or made in the CNMI.

“The Flame Tree Arts Festival aims to highlight local arts and crafts and we want to remind our artists and vendors to adhere to this rule,” Yobei said.

Other members of the festival committee are Gordon Marciano who is in charge of entertainment; Remy Buniag, off-island delegates; Darrell Moteisou, special activities; Erica Trinidad, registration; and Maria Castro, programs.

Registration is now open for artists, vendors, and other organizations that want to take part in the 31st festival celebration. Fee schedule is as follows: Arts Council registered artists, $50; New or non-registered artists, $150; Private commercial or food vendors, $1,500 plus $100 refundable trash deposit; Non-profit organizations, $600; and Information booths, $250.

Yobei said their fees are about the same as last year’s rates or just enough to cover the expenses to be incurred for the festival.

“With the budget limitations of our council and the local government, it is through these fees and generous donations from sponsors that we will be able to host this event,” he said.

Arts Council executive director Angel S. Hocog encouraged the community to patronize this year’s festival. “We extend our gratitude to the public for their continued support in upholding the Commonwealth’s arts and culture,” he said. “We hope to see you in the 31st Annual Flame Tree Arts Festival.”

To register or for more information, visit the Arts Council office next to the post office on Capitol Hill or call 322-9982 or 83.