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Council seeks input on whether to send delegation to Pacific arts fest
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Posted on Oct 04 2011
By Clarissa V. David
Reporter
Reporter
The Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture is encouraging all registered traditional and visual artists as well as performing groups in the CNMI to attend a meeting at 2pm on Thursday, Oct. 6, at their office on Capital Hill.
Executive director Angel S. Hocog said the meeting aims to involve these artists and performers in deciding whether or not the CNMI, through the Arts Council, will send a delegation to the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts slated for July 1-14, 2012 in Solomon Islands.
Established by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community in 1972, the Festival of Pacific Arts is a traveling festival hosted by a different country in Oceania every four years to stem erosion of traditional cultural practices by sharing and exchanging cultures at each event.
This year’s theme is “Culture in Harmony with Nature.”
“The Arts Council would like to get the views and opinions of our local artists and performers in sending a delegation to represent the CNMI in this very important event that encourages the exchange and perpetuation of traditional arts and cultures among island nations and territories,” said Hocog.
Hocog told Saipan Tribune that the last time the CNMI sent a delegation to the Festival of Pacific Arts was in 2004 in Koror, Palau.
Should the CNMI fail to send a delegation next year, Hocog said it will be the second time that the Commonwealth is not represented in the Festival of Pacific Arts. The CNMI also missed the 10th year of the festival held in Pago Pago, American Samoa in 2008.
“Given our local government’s budget limitations, the burden of funding for our participation in this significant festival lies with our talented artists and performers. It is incumbent upon us all to make the decision as the festival draws near,” added Hocog.
For more information about the festival or the meeting, visit the Arts Council office next to the Post Office in Capitol Hill or call 322-9982 or 83.
