Festival overall chairman Parker Yobei, who was yesterday’s speaker at the Saipan Rotary Club meeting at the Hyatt, said they are expecting about four performing artists from American Samoa, about 40 from New Zealand, 50 from Japan who will be joining for the first time, and about 200 from Guam.
“We have sent invitations to neighboring islands to join us but we are still waiting for confirmation from Palau, Chuuk, Kosrae, Yap and the Marshall Islands,” Yobei said.
This year, financial constraints have hindered Yap’s traditional canoes from sailing to Saipan, but he said they are making arrangements for a local canoe paddling contest instead.
“The canoe race is still being arranged, but we hope we can go on with it,” Yobei said.
This year, only 65 booths will be reserved for vendors, 20 of which will be for food and the rest for traditional arts and crafts.
Yobei said the Arts Council has agreed to waive the $50 fee for traditional artists to help them promote local arts, but new or unregistered Arts Council members will have to pay $150.
Private and commercial vendors will pay $1,600 each while non-profit organizations, which are also allowed to sell local merchandise, will each pay $600. The fee for each information booth is $250.
Yobei said they are left with no choice but to raise the fees to help defray the costs of the event.
“If we can get funding for the event, or sponsors who will shoulder the expenses then maybe we can reduce the registration fees but if not, then we can do nothing,” Yobei said.
This year’s theme is “Celebrating 30 years of Uniting Cultures and Traditions.”
The deadline for booth registration is May 20. Registration forms are available at the Arts Council on Capital Hill next to the Post Office from 8:30a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 322-9982 or -83 or email at ftaf30@yahoo.com for more information.
