Diary of a Festival Director, part 1
By Ann Rynearson, Festival Director
As I write this, Festival of Nations is almost here– barely three weeks away! It’s going to be one of the most exciting in years. Last year’s fairgoers will be pleased to hear we have made major changes in the layout to accommodate our growing crowds. Please try to attend (or even better, volunteer), because the entertainment, food, gifts and children’s activities are all bigger and better than ever.
Right now, I am working 24-7 on the artistic program. You’ll be glad to hear that a record ten refugee ethnic groups are represented: Afghani, Albanian, Bosnian, Colombian, Eritrean (though not Kunama yet), Ethiopian, Haitian, Liberian, Sierra Leonean, and Vietnamese. Despite strenuous effort on the part of caseworkers, artists from the Turkish, Kunama, Karenand Somali communities were not yet quite ready to play a role, though we will have a Burmese food booth.
It typically takes at least three to four years after arrival for a new community to be ready to participate. I know we’re all eager to see more of the rich culture brought here by all the new groups. One of the advantages to the cycle is that it means the festival is always growing as refugee populations get settled. After a few years, they start restaurants or community organizations, and they want to sell their wares or share their unique spices with St. Louis! Some choose to do it to raise funds to support their organizations. Others use the experience as a starting-off point for their own small businesses.
Stay tuned for Diary of a Festival Director, Part 2, which will be posted on Friday, August 15
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:28 pm
I think that’s great. It adds tho the idea of the periphery and center theory. Although these immigrants are now in mainstream America which itself is a culmination of ideals, customs, and traditions all put together to form this melting pot called America, they are still able to be faithful to their own customs and traditions from their native culture. It’s more like a salad bowl theory where although many different ingredients are included in the bowl to make up the salad, each ingredient itself is unique and tastes different all by itself. I find these analogies are very helpful when trying to get this point across.