WABASH - Arts Midwest World Fest, a global outreach performing arts program, announced Wabash as one of its nine host cities in its 2011-2013 series.
The program is dedicated to bringing international music ensembles to the Midwest and selected Wabash for its active arts community and relative location to Hartford City, which is home to a 3M plant. 3M, based in Minneapolis, Minn., is major supporter of the World Fest program.
"For this series, Wabash is the only community to be invited in the state of Indiana," said Ken Carlson, Arts Midwest senior program director. "With the encouragement of our Indiana partner, the Indiana Arts Commission, our assessment is that the Honeywell Center and the community of Wabash are going to be a perfect fit."
During the two-year program, beginning in late October 2011, four ensembles representing distinct cultures will tour select communities in nine states served by Arts Midwest. The international ensembles feature week-long residencies held in coordination with the Honeywell Center's Educational Outreach Program. During each ensemble's stay in Wabash, they will feature opportunities such as: public and school performances; elementary, middle school, high school and college assemblies that focus on music, education and interaction.
Prior to the residencies, Arts Midwest will prepare and provide curriculum materials for use by schools and other community organizations. The curriculum, along with residency activities, will be designed to enhance the audience's understanding and appreciation of these cultures and performing arts in an accessible and lasting manner.
"World Fest and Arts Midwest blend well with our Educational Outreach Program," said Honeywell Center Executive Director Tod Minnich. "Our program is dedicated to providing arts-in-education opportunities for our community and Arts Midwest shares that passion. In addition, our program has long-featured inspiring artists; but through this cooperation, we are thrilled to offer students access to international artists."
This October, the first visiting group to arrive will be the Yamma Ensemble. Formed in 2010, the Yamma Ensemble is a five-member band from Israel who share many of the different cultural and ethnic backgrounds that thrive in their country. Their sounds, drawn together from Eastern European, Balkan, Gypsy, Sephardic and Yemenite melodies, are at times joyous and at others moving; together they bring to their audiences the cultural mosaic that is Israel.In March 2012, the second visiting ensemble arrives. The Uighur Song and Dance Troupe from China consists of a dozen artists from the Xinjiang region of China. Known for their vibrant music and ethnic dances that have been part of their culture for centuries, the Uighur Song and Dance Troupe performs songs that reflect a wide range of styles reflecting on the history of their society.
Finishing out the series will be West El Balad from Cairo, Egypt, coming in Fall 2012; and the Balinese group Gamelan Cudamani arriving in the Spring 2013. More information for these groups will be provided closer to their arrival dates.
