Pacific Art Festival central London
October 9-30th 2021
Contemporary Pacific Voices on Arts, Culture and the Natural Environment
A celebration of Pacific arts and culture in the lead up to COP26, a three-week festival running 9-30 October 2021, is being produced by Pacific Island Artists Connection and hosted by St Martin-in-the-Fields in London's Trafalgar Square. This inaugural event brings together communities from Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea who are based in the Pacific region as well as the UK's large Pacific diaspora. The festival is free and includes an art exhibition curated by the talented Sulu Daunivalu (Director, Museum of Pacific & Oceanic Art, Latvia), heritage arts and products, on-line panel discussions, interactive activities live-streamed with Fijian speakers and performers.
Showcasing both heritage and contemporary arts, including a wide variety of visual art that has never been shown before, the exhibition will take visitors on a journey across the Pacific region whilst highlighting the impact climate change is having on these small island nations and how Pacific communities are fighting back.
Many of the works on display will be for sale and this income will directly assist Pacific Islanders who have been so badly affected by the COVID pandemic. A selection of artists showing in the exhibition include Nicolai Michoutouchkine, Irami Buli, John Danger and Robert Kua.
Fiji-based dance company VOU Fiji will be featured in a recorded film showcasing their award winning piece ‘Are We Stronger Than Winston?’. Choreographed by VOU’s Navi Fong after Fiji was devastated by category 5 Tropical Cyclone Winston in February 2016, the piece has been redeveloped by Fong to incorporate current conversations on climate change and climate action. At the opening ceremony, a live dance performance will follow the film, performed by Ta’Arei Weeks, also choreographed by Navi Fong, through virtual connections, highlighting the Covid-19 impact on travel and cultural tourism.
All event updates will be posted at Pacific Art Festival London 2021: 9th October - 30th October | Facebook. The exhibition will also be online from Saturday 9th October.
Live and online events concerning culture and the impacts of climate change in the region will be taking place throughout the festival, some live streamed with Fiji. Additionally, UK-based Pacific Island communities will be on site selling handmade Fijian products - perfect for Christmas gifts.
Public participation:
HeartEdge online international panels Thursday 21st October - online 20h00 BST, 07h00 Fiji Time (22/10); Making UK Connections: Voices of the Pacific: Pacific arts and culture A panel of artists and performers talk about Pacific arts and culture plus the impact climate change has had on artist livelihoods in the region.
Info and register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/making-uk-connections-voices-of-the-pacific-tickets-173884562407
Thursday 28th October - online 10h00 BST, 21h00 Fiji Time; Making UK Connections: Voices of the Pacific: New solidarity - A panel discussion focusing on what Pacific Island communities need most from COP26 and how communities can connect anew to amplify the calls for urgent action with the catholic Archbishop of Suva, the Most Rev. Dr Peter Loy Chong DD,
Info and register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/making-uk-connections-voices-of-the-pacific-tickets-173888614527
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Bruce Cockburn - World of Wonders.
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