FROM ALL DIRECTIONS
INDIGENOUS AND REGIONAL CULTURES
AND WORLD MARKETS
News from Bronitsky and Associates
Bringing Together Indigenous Peoples and the World Since 1992
a monthly newsletter from Bronitsky and Associates about events and people from indigenous and regional cultures in the international scene--festivals, funding, conferences, publications and current issues.
Correspondence, subscription/unsubscription, opportunities, talent news, etc. should be directed to the United States office
Circulation: 4209
Our News - what's keeping us busy!
Our New Office
Website Upgrades
Promoting Touring Acts
Mariachi to the World
Interviewing New Acts
ICACD Conference Kumasi, Ghana
Resourcing Senegal Initiative
Mexico Preparations
For Your Diary
Festivals
Funding
Conferences
Publications
News
Sites of Interest
Our News - what's keeping us busy!
Our New Office
Bronitsky and Associates (USA) have re-located into new offices so please note our new address and contact details:
Bronitsky and Associates
Two Park Square
6565 Americas Parkway NE, Suite 200
Albuquerque, NM 87110
Telephone +1-505-563-5755
Come by for a visit if you're in the neighborhood!
Website Upgrades
We continue to fine tune the form and content of our website - www.bronitskyandassociates.com - we have added a few new images and have included sound clips for Touring Artists Jerry Harmon and Aniksak and Uyaupiq.
The sound clips are saved in MP3 format for compatibility with the widest range of music player software. All files are recorded at 192 kbps for high quality playback over most high speed connections.
Promoting Touring Acts
In our more formal role representing some of the world's greatest acts, we have been developing systems and our database to more effectively market these groups and performers. There is a growing interest globally for the unique performances presented by authentic Indigenous and Regional artists.
Our database of Festivals and event producers and theatrical presenters is growing rapidly and offers a range of community based to high end arts opportunities. If you have an event, Festival or performance opportunity you would like listed on our database, please contact: .
Mariachi to the World
Mariachi Imperial de America - after their successful 2007 tour to China - are in the final stages of confirming a US State Department hosted tour into Europe for Fall 2008. The Houston based group will be performing as a tribute to the richness of Hispanic culture and traditions as found in the United States of America.
The tour details are being finalized and all the members are excited at this opportunity and are currently working to learn a few local songs that they can perform "Mariachi style".
Interviewing New Acts
The new Bronitsky and Associates website and the announcement that we are formally acting as agents for a select number of performing artists and groups has sparked a rush of approaches requesting our services. It has been exciting for us here in the office, firstly to realize that people do read our newsletter and visit our website.
We have had approaches from Algiers, Egypt, Ghana, Latvia, Australia, the Marianas, Argentina, Senegal and Vietnam to name a few. If you have a group or are a performing artist and would like to be considered please contact:
When making your approach please send as much information as you can include images, background and if possible copies of recordings. If you need to post your information please visit our Contact Us page - please direct all enquiries in the first instance to our New Mexico office marked attention Tony Duke.
ICACD Conference Kumasi, Ghana
We have organized a symposium for the upcoming International Conference on African Culture and Development (www.icacd.ccoghana.org/), scheduled for April 21-26 in Kumasi, Ghana. The symposium is entitled Developing Festivals, Developing Our Communities: Symposium on the Roles of Community and Regional Festivals in Economic Development. The symposium will bring festival directors from Indigenous and Regional Festivals in Australia, New Zealand and Mexico.
The symposium was to be initially supported with funds from with Ghana and the ICACD organizers are currently seeking a sponsor for the symposium to assist with the airfares for the international speakers - if you know of an organization or and institution that could be interested in sponsoring this initiative please contact either: or the ICACD Secretariat: .
Resourcing Senegal Initiative
For the past few months we have been working with Mr. Ibrahima Seck representing the CENTRE D'INITIATIVES ET DE RECHERCHES PAYSANNES POUR L'ENVIRONNEMENT ET LE DÉVELOPPEMENT DURABLE (CIRPED) in Senegal - www.interconnection.org/cirped to support his much needed work with the Union of Indigenous People of the zone of Bande with the goal to establish a Traditional Cultural Community Center. The initial focus was to present a series of cultural management and marketing workshops as undertake a consultation to develop a plan to assist in realizing the vision of the Traditional Cultural Community Center.
A US based Foundation that Bronitsky and Associates were able to introduce Mr. Seck to has recently agreed to work with him to organize an "Assessment of Community Dialogue" of the Union of Indigenous People of the zone of Bande with a support of CIRPED. This document will be the foundation for the development of an ongoing relationship and the establishment of the much-needed Traditional Cultural Community Center. Congratulations to Mr. Ibrahima Seck for his hard work and persistence.
Mexico Preparations
As we write this newsletter, Tony Duke is making ready to travel to Veracruz, Mexico to commence work with the Unidos por el Tajin AC, the presenters of the Cumbre Tajin Festival of Identity - www.cumbretajin.com. Cumbre Tajin is a celebration by the Totonac people and is recognized as the largest Indigenous Festival in Mexico.
Bronitsky and Associates is contracted to promote Cumbre Tajin and the Totonac artists internationally. Cumbre Tajin Festival is on March 19th to 13rd 2008, it is planned to host representatives form two premiere Indigenous Australian Festivals at this year's event with the idea to develop a future cultural exchange between the nations.
For Your Diary
If you would like to list an event, activity or publication with us, please forward details to before the 28th of each month to ensure its inclusion in the next FROM ALL DIRECTIONS newsletter.
Event - USA
The National Congress of American Indians, President Joe Garcia is to Deliver 6th Annual State of Indian Nations Address January 31, 2008 in Washington D.C.
The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) President Joe A. Garcia will deliver the 6th annual State of Indian Nations Address on Thursday, January 31, 2008 from the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The speech will be delivered three days after President Bush's State of the Union Address and is a forum for relaying to the President, the American public and Indian Nations the general state of America's Indian nations.
| WHEN: | Thursday, January 31, 2008, 12:30 p.m. (EST) |
| WHERE: | National Press Club-First Amendment Lounge 529 14th Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20045 |
The speech will be broadcast live on NCAI's website. NCAI will send out more information on the broadcast in the days to come.
For more information or to RSVP contact Adam McMullin at 202-466-7767 or .
The All Indian Pueblo Council of New Mexico and Chairman Joe Garcia presents The State of The Pueblo Nation Address on February 5, 2008 at 11:00 AM in the Santa Fe Indian School Gymnasium, Santa Fe, New Mexico. To attend please RSVP: 505.881.1992
Festivals
CHINESE NEW YEAR IN CANADA - The Chinese New Year Festival will be held by Chi-Ping Dance Group on 10 February, 2008 at Scarborough Civic Centre (150 Borough Drive, opposite of the Scarborough Town Centre) 2:00pm - 4:00pm. The program includes: Lion Dance, Chinese Dance, Music Orchestra etc. Also, the God of Fortune will greet and present everyone a Lucky Pocket. It is a FREE event. Please visit: www.chipingdance.com
PASIFIKA - The Pasifika Festival takes place in March every year at the Western Springs Park, Great North Road, Auckland, New Zealand, March 7th and 8th, 2008. It is one of the largest community events in the South Pacific. It is recognized as an important celebration of the art, culture and lifestyle of Pacific Islands communities of Auckland. The festival is part of the Celebrate Pasifika program of events, which take place throughout March. Please visit www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/whatson/events/pasifika/default.asp
CUMBRE TAJIN - 19th to the 23rd March 2008 showcases the ancient culture of the Totonac people across visual arts and crafts, performing arts, and the healing and culinary traditions indigenous to the Veracruz region. Please visit www.cumbretajin.com
The website is in Spanish and translation can be made using http://babelfish.altavista.com
THE SAMI EASTER FESTIVAL - presented annually in Kautokeino, Norway, the festival is a seven-day journey through Sámi culture and its diversity. The festival features the Sámi Film Festival as well as snowscooter racing and the reindeer racing world cup amid an extensive program of art exhibitions, theatre performances, concerts and religious activities. Please visit www.saami-easterfestival.org/Home.html
MOVING CLOSER FESTIVAL - Warsaw, Poland - the festival events range between academic current of modern art and independent art creators. Both of the above artistic contexts as well as a widely comprehended avant-garde current will d focus the attention of festival audience on inventiveness, ingeniousness and usage of popularly known and unknown media in such a way to achieve new quality in artistic form and content. Another important element of the concept of Moving Closer festival is the popularization of contemporary art and widening of its circle of audience. Sami band Transjoik will be performing this year - http://www.transjoik.com/.
Please visit: http://www.movingcloser.pl
INTERNATIONAL FOLKLORE FESTIVAL "OP ROAKELDAIS" WARFFUM - The Op keldais site, the Folkdance Festival of Warffum, in a small corner of the Netherlands, five kilometers from the Waddenzee, once a year the epic centre of a big cultural shock. Folk dancing groups from every corner of the world present themselves. From Chinese female perfection in color and choreographies and from black pounding
Zandeweer, The Netherlands from June 25-29, 2008. Please visit: http://www.oproakeldais.nl
THE 19TH INTERNATIONAL FOLKLORE FESTIVAL -“BALTICA-2008” will take place in LITHUANIA, on July 1 – 6, 2008. This is most significant international folklore festival in our country and in the Baltic States. Every year, since 1987, it has been held in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. It has financial support from the state. Usually, from 10 to 14 folk groups from different countries of the world take part in the festival. This year guests from Latvia, Estonia, Jordan, Armenia, Greece, Portugal, Mexico, Tuva, Hawaiian Islands, Finland, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine, Slovakia and others have been invited.
We would like to request your assistance in the searching for the most appropriate folklore group from your country, willing and being able to take part in the Festival “BALTICA 2008”.
The connective topic of the festival is Guest, visiting, treating. If you would like to perform or know more about Baltica please contact:
Artistic Director Jūratė Šemetaitė
Ph.: (+370 5) 261 4467
Fax: (+370 5) 261 2607
e-mail: ,
Please visit: http://www.llkc.lt
FESTIVAL OF PACIFIC ARTS - held every four years, the Festival celebrates the richness of the unique cultures and traditions of the Peoples of the Pacific. In 2008, the Festival will take place in American Samoa from July 20th to August 2nd (10 festival days). Please visit www.festival-pacific-arts.org/Festival.html
THE DREAMING FESTIVAL - Australia's International Indigenous Arts and Cultural Festival presented annually at the Woodford Folk Festival site about one and a half hours drive from Brisbane in the beautiful Sunshine Coast hinterland. The Festival dates for 2008 are 6th to 9th June. Please visit www.thedreamingfestival.com
THE WORLD OF MELODY FESTIVAL - Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia - 2008 dates to be confirmed. Since 2004, the World of Melody International Folk Art Festival has been successfully organized in Mongolia by the Mongolian Association of IOV. The main purpose of this festival is to advertise national art throughout the world with its specific nature and tradition. Please visit www.iovmongolia.com
Funding
Aboriginal Peoples Music Program -
Canada
The Aboriginal Peoples Music Program supports activities that
contribute to the career and artistic development of Aboriginal
musicians, and to the continued vitality of Aboriginal music.
Activities funded through this program develop professional skills of Aboriginal music artists; strengthen organizations dedicated to Aboriginal music; and support other activities that restore, preserve, invigorate and raise the profile of Aboriginal music and musicians.
Deadline March 1, 2008
http://www.canadacouncil.ca/grants/music/nm127228022158125000.htm
JB Seed – Australia
The JB Seed is an Arts Grants Program that was started by musician
John Butler and funded with the help of other artists and business
partners. All categories are open to Indigenous artists; however,
there is one category that was especially designed for Indigenous
musicians and artists – Indigenous Recording. Indigenous musicians
are also encouraged to apply for the 2008 Music Management Workshop.
To apply:
The JB Seed Fund
PO Box 1609
Fremantle WA 6959
Please note that applications close on the 17th March 2008. For
more information please contact:
Stacia Goninon
The JB Seed Co-ordinator
www.thejbseed.com
National Geographic All Roads Film Project Offers Seed Grants for
Indigenous Filmmakers - International
The All Roads Seed Grant Program funds film projects by and about
indigenous and underrepresented minority-culture filmmakers
year-round and from all reaches of the globe. The program seeks
filmmakers who bring their lives and communities to light through
first-person storytelling. Submission deadlines are quarterly on the
15th of each March, June, September, and December.
Please visit: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/allroads/seed-grants.html
Conferences
Conference on the Reclamation of
Indigenous Languages
www.mptnlanguageconference.org/
Hosted by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
February 20-22, 2008
Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center
Mashantucket, Connecticut
The conference proceedings will take place at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center (http://www.pequotmuseum.org).
International Conference on African Cultures and Development
ICACD
20 April 2008 to 24 April 2008
Kumasi, Ghana
The conference examines how global actions, policies and programs
for Africa are affected by the various cultures of Africa.
Please visit: www.icacd.ccoghana.org/default.asp
Regions of Culture – Regions of Identity
Justus Liebig University Giessen
13 July 2008 to 23 July 2008
Giessen, Germany
http://www.uni-iessen.de/cms/fbz/zentren/ggk/gcsc/training/curriculum/conferences-spring-and-summer-schools/kulturregionen
Publications
Study Highlights Arts Role in the
Economy
“Arts & Economic Prosperity III: The Economic Impact of Nonprofit
Arts and Culture Organizations and Their Audiences,” a study
commissioned by Americans for the Arts, documents the key role
played by the nonprofit arts and culture industry in strengthening
our nation’s economy. This study demonstrates that the arts and
culture industry is an economic driver in communities – a growth
industry that supports jobs, generates government revenue, and is
the cornerstone of tourism. To download a copy of the report visit
the website listed above.
http://www.artsusa.org/information-resources
Directory of Cultural Administration
Training Centers
ENCATC/UNESCO, Belgium, January 2008
An interactive on-line database of information on cultural
administration training centers around the world.
http://www.encatc.org/directory/
Call for Papers: e-journal of UNESCO
Observatory on Multi-disciplinary Research in the Arts at The
University of Melbourne's Faculty of Architecture, Building and
Planning
Issue 2: 'Creative Communities: Cultural Vitality and Human Rights'
Proposals for articles welcome by the closing date of March 31, 2008
http://www.abp.unimelb.edu.au/unesco/ejournal.html
The Cultural Development Network are acting as guest editors for the second issue, the focus of which will be 'Cultural Vitality and Human Rights', particularly looking at the role of policy in planning for and activating the cultural vitality of local communities. Researchers and practitioners from the areas of cultural policy, cultural development, government and civil society, cultural diversity, cultural rights and community-based arts are being invited to submit proposals.
Proposals should be emailed to the Cultural Development Network by 5 pm Monday March 31 to:
Cultural Development Network
Ph: +61 3 9658 9976 Fax: +61 3 9658 8840
PO Box 324, Flinders Lane 8009, Victoria, Australia
www.culturaldevelopment.net.au
News
RIGHTS-AUSTRALIA: Apology, No
Compensation For Lost Generations
By Stephen de Tarczynski
MELBOURNE, Jan 28 (IPS) - While aboriginal groups have welcomed the
Australian government’s pledge to apologize to the 'stolen
generations', they argue that the gesture should be backed up with
compensation.
http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=40955
Maori Party pledge support for
long-awaited 'Sorry' declaration
Wellington, January 29 2008: The Maori Party has praised new
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's decision to say sorry to
Aboriginal people but says it is only a starting point.
http://www.nit.com.au/breakingNews/story.aspx?id=13742
HEALTH-CHILE: Government Finances
Mapuche Medical Service
By Daniela Estrada*
NUEVA IMPERIAL, Chile, Jan 26 (Tierramérica) - A conventional
hospital and a Mapuche medical centre, run by traditional healers
who examine urine and prescribe infusions, coexist at the
Intercultural Health Complex in the southern Chilean region of
Araucanía.
http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=40943
BRAZIL: Land Shortage Provokes Murders
of Indigenous People
By Mario Osava
RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan 14 (IPS) - At least 76 indigenous people were
murdered in Brazil in 2007, 58 percent more than in 2006. The
killings increased the most in the west-central state of Mato Grosso
do Sul, where the Guaraní people are confined to territories too
small for them to maintain their traditional way of life.
http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=40787
ARTS-MALI: Festival Fosters Cultural
Exchange in the Desert
By Jennifer Hollett
ESSAKANE, Mali, Jan 16 (IPS) - A polar bear is in the middle of the
Sahara desert. It is not a mirage. Underneath the bear’s head could
be seen the face of an Inuit actor, who is wearing the skin for a
skit. Artcirq -- an Inuit circus collective -- had travelled from
the Arctic to Africa for Festival in the Desert, held here on the
weekend.
http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=40813
Iti and Tuhoe to make Waitangi mark
By TIM DONOGHUE - The Dominion Post | Wednesday, 30 January 2008
Waitangi organizers expect controversial Maori leader Tame Iti to
lead a strong delegation of his Tuhoe people on to the historic
Treaty Grounds at Waitangi next week. They do not, however, expect
him to breach bail conditions by speaking about the controversial
dawn raids resulting in his arrest at Ruatoki last October.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4379629a6160.html
Polar Bears Are The Wrong Target Say
Inuit
by Clive Tesar
Canadian Inuit are opposing vigorous lobbying efforts to get the
polar bear listed as “threatened” under the American Endangered
Species Act. The US government has been considering the action since
2006. Now three conservation groups, the Center for Biological
Diversity, the Natural Resources Defense Council and Greenpeace are
threatening to sue the US government to get it to proceed with the
listing. Canadian Inuit say the environmentalists are taking aim at
the wrong target.
http://www.arcticpeoples.org/
Last Yoik in Saami Forests? Movie
available
Indigenous Peoples’ Secretariat in collaboration with Elonmerkki and
the Saami Council are proud to announce that the documentary “Last
Yoik in Saami Forests?” now is available on DVD and for download.
The DVDs will be distributed to interested Universities in the
Arctic Region and/or with a special interest in Arctic Indigenous
Issues. To get a copy for use at your University, contact us at
ips@arcticpeoples.org, and specify the format (NTSC for North
America, PAL for Europe/Russia). For individual requests for a copy
of the DVD we ask you to contact the producer at
www.elonmerkki.net.
Sites of Interest
For more information please contact:
National Geographic - All Roads
Indigenous Film initiative
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/allroads/
Australia Council’s Music Board Now on
MySpace
http://www.ozco.gov.au/news/news_items/australia_councils_music_board_now_on_myspace
Inuit and Aboriginal Filmmakers Website
Isume Productions (Nunavut, Canada) has launched a website for Inuit
and Aboriginal filmmakers at
www.isuma.tv.
National Congress of American Indians
http://www.ncai.org/Home.9.0.html
Toi Maori Aotearoa New Zealand
http://www.maoriart.org.nz/
Maori Publishing House – Huia Press
http://www.huia.co.nz/
Egyptian Center for Culture and Art
http://www.egyptmusic.org/
Native American performing artist Thirza
Defoe
http://www.thirzadefoe.com/
Sami Band Tranjoik
http://www.transjoik.com/
Koori Radio – Indigenous radio from
Sydney, Australia
http://www.gadigal.org.au/KooriRadio/AboutUs.aspx
International Funders for Indigenous
People
http://www.internationalfunders.org/index.html
Global Hand
http://globalhand.org/home
Indigenous People in Brazil
http://www.socioambiental.org/pib/indexenglish.htm
If you would like to contribute an item to FROM ALL DIRECTIONS, the monthly e-newsletter of Bronitsky and Associates, please forward your listing before the 28th of each month to .