FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jess Cherofsky // 617 . 441 . 5400 x 15 // jess@cs.org
Plymouth, MA (June 2016) - On Saturday, July 23 and Sunday, July 24 from 10am-5pm Indigenous artists and musicians from around the world will come together for a free admission festival celebrating their cultures. The Plymouth community and its visitors are invited to join them to enjoy Indigenous music and art whose purchase supports the livelihoods of Indigenous communities around the globe. An attendee has called it "the best place to get unique global gifts while supporting indigenous cultures!"
Tourists in Plymouth, many of whom travel to learn about Plymouth’s unique history as the place where the Pilgrims arrived, will have the chance to deepen their experience with a perspective on the Indigenous communities that thrived right here in Plymouth before the Pilgrims’ arrival and that continue to exist today, as they strive for recognition of their rights and cultures both here in Massachusetts and around the world. Indigenous makers will demonstrate and tell the stories behind their crafts and sell one-of-a-kind pieces of art for various budgets.
Since 1982, Cultural Survival’s Bazaars have provided a market for thousands of artists and cooperatives spanning six continents and over sixty countries. Each year the Bazaars generate about half a million dollars for Indigenous artists, performers, and projects benefiting Indigenous communities worldwide. Attendees can enjoy craft-making demonstrations, free concerts, and one-on-one conversations with representatives of dozens of different Indigenous cultures.
“Our art is hardly seen in the northeast; the Bazaars allow us to share our heritage. I am able to sell my art and [that] of [two cooperatives] that support over 40 Wixarika-Huichol families who don't have a market in Mexico,” says Cilau Valadez, a world-renowned yarn-painter from the Mexican state of Nayarit.
Many vendors represent cooperatives that make it possible for children to attend school and provide a singular source of income to women. Whether working with ancient techniques or modern materials, the artists produce unique pieces and intricate designs that fascinate viewers. One attendee said, "It's like a trip around the world's bazaars."
About Cultural Survival: Cultural Survival is an international NGO whose mission is to advocate for Indigenous Peoples' rights and support Indigenous communities’ self-determination, cultures and political resilience.
High resolution photos available upon request
Cultural Survival Bazaars Website
Cultural Survival Official Website
Event information:
DCR Pilgrim Memorial State Park
July 23-24, 2016
79 Water Street
Plymouth, MA 02360
10am - 5pm
Live music
Free admission // Rain or shine
2 blocks from Main Street; steps from Plymouth Rock, Mayflower Society House, and many other tourist attractions
Ample street parking
Native Wampanoag food stand by Chef Sherry Pocknett
Musical guests: Hawk Henries, Sidy Maiga, Jonathan Perry, and Yarina
Download the release here in word.
