With the limited number of booths, festival overall chairman Parker Yobei of the Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture yesterday urged vendors to register early. Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Yobei said they earlier announced the availability of 85 booths but had to make some adjustments after a meeting with Park Rangers Nancy Kelchner and Susan Fishman-Tudor last week.
“They want to make sure that the site for the festival is conducive for all participants, that’s why it has been decided that there will only 45 arts and crafts booths,” Yobei said.
He thanked the staff of American Memorial Park for the assistance and cooperation they extended in making the preparations for the event easier for both sides.
As a new feature this year, the committee agreed to highlight local arts and crafts. Yobei said imported materials can be used as long as the finished products are created on island.
As a special incentive for all registered traditional local artists, Arts Council executive director Angel Hocog announced that the event committee has decided to waive the $50 registration fee.
Hocog said they want local to promote their artwork and perpetuate local cultures and traditions.
“After all, this is what the festival is all about,” Hocog said.
The committee is inviting the community to come out and join the 30th Annual Flame Tree Arts Festival which will be held from June 9 to 12 at American Memorial Park, west of the Bell Tower in Garapan.
The festival is the largest cultural event in the commonwealth which brings together local and international artists aimed to share the beauty of the vast cultural heritage of the CNMI.
This year’s theme is “Celebrating 30 years of Uniting Cultures and Traditions.”
Registration forms as well as terms and conditions are available at the Arts Council office on Capital Hill next to the post office from 8:30a.m. to 4:30 p.m., call 322-9982 or 83, or email ftaf30@yahoo.com.
