World Beat Visits Africa

As we look at the summer travel season, many people are talking about taking “staycations” this year, but the Salem Multicultural Institute is hoping you will join them as they travel to Africa on June 27th and 28th. Sample the foods, enjoy the music and dances, learn some of their crafts. Now before you get worried that you don’t have time to get your shots, passport and visas in order to take part in this wonderful adventure, let me tell you that you only have to travel as far at Riverfront Park in downtown Salem to take part in this year’s World Beat Festival.

While other cultures will also be shared as part of the two-day festival, the focus of this year’s event is the continent of Africa. With the richness of their heritage, the influence of the African people can be found at the core of much of the modern music and dance we experience as part of our own culture, and often times think of as quintessentially American.

The Salem Multicultural Institute offers us a great opportunity, at the end of June each year, to learn a little bit more about our neighbors near and far. So, pack your bags and load the family in the car and enjoy a fabulous trip to Africa all in our own backyard. For more information about the World Beat Festival, visit www.worldbeatfestival.org. Visit www.artsmartsalem.org for a listing of events for the current month and remember, “There’s Something to do in Salem”.

What is ArtSmart Anyway?

It has come to my attention that many of you might not know what ArtSmart is. It all started in 1998 when Dorothy Garrett, who was the president of the board of the Oregon Symphony Association in Salem, gathered a number of other non-profit arts board presidents together to talk about what was going on in their organizations. Over the years, the group has grown and its roll in Salem’s Arts World has changed and grown as well.

Throughout its history ArtSmart’s commitment has been to work cooperatively to promote and enhance the arts and cultural opportunities in Salem and its surrounding communities. As the first ArtSmart community arts calendar was published, the grassroots group incorporated. Continuing to work cooperatively to promote the arts, member groups introduced a guide for teachers in the 2006-2007 school year.

ArtSmart is funded through memberships and project grants. As the finishing touches are being put on the fifth annual community arts calendar (to be unveiled at Art Fair in July) the organization continues to work to raise awareness about the wonderful entertainment opportunities in Salem and the surrounding areas. For more information about how you can become a member of ArtSmart, email info@artsmartsalem.org . Visit www.artsmartsalem.org for a listing of events for the current month and remember, “There’s Something to do in Salem”.