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Arts Council moves Flame Tree Festival to June
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Posted on Feb 08 2000
Deviating from the traditional celebration of the annual fair before the flowers bloom in April, the CNMI Arts Council has scheduled to hold this year’s Flame Tree Arts Festival two months later.
“The Marianas Visitors Authority has asked us to move the festival from April to June because that’s the time when the flowers are in full bloom and when higher tourist arrivals are normally recorded,” Arts Council Executive Director Rob Hunter explained.
Festival Coordinator Cindy Macaranas joined Mr. Hunter in officially announcing yesterday that the 19th Annual Flame Tree Festival will be held from June 2 to 4, 2000 at the American Memorial Park.
Ms. Macaranas is however concerned that the holding of the festival in June may yield reduced participation from schools. “It’s either the schools are already in summer vacation then or it’s examination period.”
According to Mr. Hunter, this year’s new schedule for the Flame Tree Arts Festival will be more of a test-in-the-water decision. “If it is successful in June, we will start holding it in June in the succeeding years.”
MVA is the biggest government sponsor for this year while the Arts Council starts soliciting support from corporate sponsors.
Mr. Hunter noted that businesses in the island have thrown financial assistance to the annual event despite economic hardships during the last two years.
This year’s arts festival will highlight the culture of every single ethnic group in the CNMI through production numbers that include those from Guam, the Marshal Islands, Republic of Palau, Yap, Pohnpei, China, Korea, Japan and the Philippines.
The Arts Council is also trying to coordinate with the Carolinians from Satawal, an outer island of Yap in the Federated States of Micronesia, for a traditional canoe navigation which will culminate during the festival.
The Commonwealth’s Flame Tree Festival is the largest annual arts affair in Micronesia, established 19 years ago to promote the arts and culture of all the ethnic groups in the Northern Marianas.
