Saipan Tribune

Monday, May 20, 2013

Friday, March 01, 2013

Registration begins for Flame Tree Arts Fest

Registration begins today for the 32nd Annual Flame Tree Arts Festival, which will take place from April 19 to 21 at the Civic Center Park in Susupe.

Parker Y. Yobei, overall festival committee chair, is inviting all local artists and vendors to sign up for one of the limited number of booths.

Yobei noted that only 10 consumable or food booths and 70 artist booths will be accommodated.

This year's registration fees are as follows: Arts Council-registered artists, $50; new or non-registered artists, $150; private commercial vendors (consumables), $800, which is inclusive of $100 refundable trash deposit; non-profit organizations, $350, with additional $100 for those with consumables; and information booths, $250.

“Our registration fees remain the same as last year,” said Yobei.

Logistics and Enforcement Committee chair Darrell Moteisou emphasized that new artists who want to have a booth at the festival will have to be screened to ensure that the artwork are all made on island.

“While there are materials that are imported for use in the artwork, we want the final product made in the CNMI. The purpose of the Annual Flame Tree Arts Festival has always been to promote local artists and their locally grown and handcrafted products that make our Commonwealth proud,” he said.

Moteisou warned that booths that do not comply with this regulation will be shut down and banned from future participation in the festival.

Bureau of Environmental Health program manager Lily Kapileo-Igisaiar is reminding food vendors that they are required to secure a Sanitary Health Permit and a Food Handler Certificate or FHC before they can sell consumables at the event. The FHC costs $20.

Igisaiar said that those who do not have a valid FHC are required to go to any private clinic for a Food Handler physical examination then attend the Food, Hygiene and Sanitation Workshop.

She said BEH is offering free workshops on a first-come, first-served basis, which can accommodate up to 35 individuals per session. These workshops are held from Tuesdays to Thursdays, 8am to 10am, on Navy Hill across the baseball field.

“I encourage vendors who are interested in selling food items at the festival to go through the process of obtaining a FHC as soon as possible for it takes three weeks before the actual certificate is issued,” said Igisaiar.

For more information about the BEH permits and workshops, call 664-4870 or 72.

Yobei urged vendors and artists to fill out the registration forms available at the Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture next to the post office on Capital Hill.

To register or for more information, call 322-9982 or 83.