For Immediate Release
15th Anniversary World Beat Festival June 30 - July 1.
One February evening in 1997, two moms with young daughters set out to form a positive response to incidents of racism and intolerance in Salem, Oregon. On rolls of poster paper stretched across a dining room wall, they mapped out a celebration of cultural diversity. The World Beat Festival, celebrating its 15th anniversary this June 30-July 1 is a true story of community action. The Salem Multicultural Institute, the nonprofit that they formed to operate the festival, has since flourished. It operates programs all year long with a small staff and more than 400 volunteers.
The World Beat Festival is a two-day international cultural event that gives visitors the opportunity to learn about different cultures by experiencing their music, dance, stories, art, and foods in an atmosphere of openness and appreciation for people of all ethnic backgrounds. More than 125 performances, demonstrations, and workshops take place throughout the weekend. Festival hours are Saturday, June 30, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday, July 1, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with the Dragon Boat Races kicking off at 9:00 a.m. There is a $5 suggested donation at the gate.
The Festival engages cultural heritage groups from all over the Northwest and beyond. It is organized in five World Villages representing different regions of the world and has nine performance venues, three parades, and Dragon Boat Races all day on Sunday. The first event of the summer, the Festival is an important Oregon tradition. Sixty three nations and cultures are represented, and this year’s event will have a special focus on youth cultural performances.
World Beat owes much of its success to the ongoing involvement of businesses and non-profit groups that bring volunteers in support of their exhibits and the festival as a whole. For example, Kaiser Permanente staff volunteer to run the Stepping Stage, and Wells Fargo provides operations volunteers for setup and throughout the weekend. Other long-term partners include Salem Health (first aid) and Marion County Sheriff's office (setup and teardown). The annual Dragon Boat Races are the successful result of collaboration with DragonSports USA of Portland.
The Festival is the flagship program of the Salem Multicultural Institute (SMI), and a premier regional event for Salem and Oregon. Approximately 30,000 visitors attend the event each year. In 2011, donations at the gate reached a new high of $34,800. This generates financial support for community partners such as AC Gilbert’s Discovery Village and for SMI’s year-round programming. The Festival has won several awards from the Oregon Festivals & Events Association: 2010 Best Music Program within a Festival, 2009 Best Performing Arts Festival, 2008 Best Festival, and 2006 & 2007 Best Cultural Festival. Statesman Journal readers always rank the Festival as a medalist in its Best of the Willamette Valley Awards.
For more information, contact Erin Zysett at erin@salemmulticultural.org or (503) 581-2004.
2012 Press Photos
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