Event coordinator Parker Yobei of the Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture said three events will be held one after the other to save on costs — the 30th anniversary of the Division of Youth Services, the Flame Tree Arts Festival and the Liberation Day festivities.
Yobei said on June 9, DYS will conduct its activities at the fishing base.
“The Flame Tree Arts Festival will kick off on the evening of June 9 and will run until the 12th,” he said.
Right after the festival, the Liberation Day activities will start.
Yobei said they will use some of the stalls the Saipan Mayor’s Office puts up each year for the month-long Liberation Day festivities, especially for the food booths.
“Merging the three major events and holding them in one location is a big help for all of us to save on money,” Yobei said.
Because of budget constraints, they may have to leave out the arts and education demonstrations.
He is urging artists instead who will be joining and showcasing their products to hold individual demonstrations at their own booths.
Yobei said performing artists from New Zealand and Japan have already confirmed their participation.
“We are still waiting for confirmation from artists from the other Micronesian islands,” Yobei said.
They are still debating if they will hold a parade and a booth competition this year. There was none last year because of financial constraints.
“We don’t know yet if we can come up with the money for prizes, otherwise we will go on without the competition,” he said.
For a change, Yobei said this year’s Flame Tree Arts Festival will focus on locally made products.
He said they will not allow imported products and merchandise to be displayed at the booths this year.
“Vendors can import materials but the finished products should be made here,” Yobei said.
Despite budget cuts each year, Yobei said more and more people have been coming to the festival and more local artists have also been registering to participate in the event.
“We are hoping to have more tourists and visitors and a more colorful celebration of the three events this year,” Yobei said.
Registration for the booths will open next month. Fees for commercial and private booths will remain at $600 for the three-day event, $300 for non-profit establishments, $100 for informational booths, and $50 for artists.
The Flame Tree Arts Festival is Micronesia’s largest annual arts and cultural celebration which showcases a mix of visual, performing and culinary arts from different cultures of Micronesia, the Asia-Pacific region, and beyond.
For more information, contact the Arts Council at 322-9982/83.
