INTRODUCTION:
The UCLA Center for Intercultural Performance,
EarthWays Foundation, and Foundation for World
Arts implemented a 16-day, 54-event multidisciplinary
festival in Los Angeles from Sept 14 – 29,
2002. The Festival provided opportunities for
2,000 artists to present their work in 42 sites
across the city. An estimated audience of 30,000
people attended venues ranging in size from 80
to 6,000 seats. From the intimate Plaza Methodist
Church to the Greek Theater, the festival spanned
a distance of 65 miles. Of the 54 events, 51 were
produced and presented independently while under
the umbrella of the Festival. Of the 51, 24 were
free to the public. The Festival produced three
events; two of these were benefit fundraising
events. We estimate that 3000 individuals-artists;
faith, cultural, educational, community, arts,
and environmental groups, as well as staff members
made this festival a success.
Recognizing
music as an expression of humanity’s most
profound aspirations and as a way to transcend
borders of all kinds—linguistic, national,
cultural, ideological, racial and religious—the
success of the 2002 Festival was the result of
an outpouring of interest and enthusiasm from
community partners. Many of these partners were
also a part of the 1999 World Festival of Sacred
Music—The Americas, which was initiated
by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The overwhelming
response by all involved indicates that the WFSM-LA
can be an ongoing part of the life of our diverse
and complex city. With this, our second festival,
we established organizational structures that
will lead to long-term institutionalization and
stabilization of the Festival.
MAJOR
OUTCOMES FOR 2002 WFSM-LA: The overarching
intention of the Festival- to create opportunities
for people to share cultural traditions that speak
to the spiritual, ethical and ecological questions
of our times, was realized in countless ways by
both local and international participants. Time
and time again we demonstrated that the festival
context could unite people in their commitment
to promote peace, understanding and respect for
all living things. The definition of “sacred”
encompassed a wide range of traditional and modern
music, dance, and other forms of artistic expression.
The festival promotes tolerance and diversity
as both a programming strategy and as a working
methodology for all staff and participants. Once
more, the Festival did not endorse any political
or religious agenda, and made clear its mission
as a non-commercial project.
Urban
Prayer Flag Initiative: A hands-on visual art
component with a special focus on children engaged
community members, teachers, and parents, to create
a contemporary visual expression of the ideals
and aspirations of the festival. A series of flag-making
workshops at Inner City Arts and public schools
in downtown Los Angeles took place prior to the
Festival. 500 Prayer Flags were used to mark festival
events and welcome audience.
Local
Heroes: A new initiative in 2002, this
project sought to recognize, honor and celebrate
the “heroes” among our community.
Nominated by festival participants and organizers,
a total of 31 Local Heroes from all walks of life,
from all parts of our city, and working in many
different ways, were formally introduced and honored
throughout the Festival. As a group they were
honored at the Opening Ceremony on September 14,
An Offering of Peace with Tea Master Soshitsu
Sen of the Urasenke School of Tea, hosted by the
Japanese American Cultural and Community Center;
and again, at the Festival’s closing ceremony.
The
2002 World Festival of Sacred Music-Los Angeles
has accomplished its goal of creating a model
for international, multicultural and interdisciplinary
exchange and appreciation through music. The evaluation
and redesign of this Festival, using feedback
from participants, staff, organizers and public
affirms the viability of this unique project.
We have successfully developed a structure that
promotes equitable collaboration between traditional
and experimental, amateur and professional artists
from a wide variety of cultures and different
performing disciplines. WFSM-LA stretched boundaries
and built networks while deepening our understanding
and appreciation for each other. The cooperation
and support of artists, educators, and community,
civic and religious leaders, give every indication
that this project is relevant to people’s
interests and aspirations. Most importantly, these
partners are willing to contribute their energy
and resources to ensure its success. It is for
this reason that we plan to undertake this ambitious
project every three years. |
