By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

THE Flame Tree Arts Festival this year will not be held at the American Memorial Park which now wants the organizers to pay location fee and other charges.
The annual festival will be held at the Civic Center in Susupe from April 26 to 29.
Arts Council director Cecilia Taitano Celes said the federal park‘s new management earlier informed them of the location fee of $750 a day — “no waivers are allowed.”
The arts festival will run for three days, which means that organizers have to pay $2,250 for the location fee alone.
The park is also asking $50 for administration and $50 for each of three park rangers who will monitor the rehabilitation/restoration the amount for which is “to be determined,”
“This is very disappointing,” Celes said, adding that American Memorial Park remains the best place for the festival.
It appears that the federal park is already closing its door to the festival, she added.
The annual event is the largest arts festival in Micronesia.
According to Celes, they were given $21,000 for the festival but the event is going to cost much more as they will have to pay for tents and other amenities.
Last year, about 400 artists and visitors from different Pacific jurisdictions visited Saipan for the festival.
The organizing committee, Celes said, spent about $75,000 last year when it was held at American Memorial Park.
But they were able to raise the amount from registration fees, donations from major sponsors and local funding of $27,000.
Due to limited funding this year and the uncertainties they may face due to the unexpected change in the venue, Celes said they are hoping to earn enough to pay for the expenses.
This year’s art festival will highlight the works of the late Douglas Rankin, one the island’s great artists.
Rankin passed away last month.
The works of his wife, Bernie, who died in November last year, will also be featured in the festival.