International Festival of Arts & Ideas Changes Course: Arts For Labor Weekend to Feature Vaccinations and Vibes, New Haven Symphony Orchestra Concert Postponed
International Festival of Arts & Ideas “Arts for Labor Weekend” to include Vaccination Initiative with the City of New Haven, Inviting Residents to the Green for Free Vaccines, Live Performances
NHSO September 4 Concert Postponed until June 2022; Dawn Tallman, the Tines & DJ Fire to perform instead
Due to the ever-changing landscape of public health, the International Festival of Arts & Ideas (Arts & Ideas) will be shifting its “Arts for Labor” programming to focus on encouraging public safety with “Vaccination and Vibes” weekend. The 2-day event will feature live performances of music, dance, poetry, storytelling, and more from Connecticut-based artists. The Festival is celebrating frontline workers and encouraging audiences to protect our whole community the best way we can by getting vaxxed for FREE at a mobile clinic on the Green, in partnership with the City of New Haven. The New Haven Symphony stands in full support of community protection through vaccination and has donated tickets to the effort as incentive.
The Saturday, September 4 concert program featuring the New Haven Symphony Orchestra and guest artists Brian Stokes Mitchell and Harolyn Blackwell is postponed and will be performed during the June 2022 International Festival of Arts and Ideas. Arts & Ideas Executive Director Shelley Quiala says, “We look forward to supporting that experience, complete with guest soloists Brian Stokes Mitchell and Harolyn Blackwell, in the summer of 2022.” On Saturday, Connecticut artists Dawn Tallman, the Tines, and DJ Fire will perform instead.
New Haven Symphony Orchestra CEO Elaine C. Carroll says, “Following guidance from local health officials and our community health partners, the Symphony has made the very difficult decision to postpone our September 4 concert. We anticipated extremely large crowds turning out for our return as a full orchestra, as well as for our headline artists Brian Stokes Mitchell and Harolyn Blackwell. Thankfully, our musicians, our guest artists, and our wonderful partners at the Festival have all graciously agreed to reschedule this concert for the June 2022 International Festival of Arts & Ideas.”
Saturday, September 4 at 5 PM
Vaccinations and vibes will be in abundant supply as DJ Fire, New Haven’s Indie Rock sensation The Tines, and Gospel legend Dawn Tallman kick off the weekend.
Sunday, September 5 at 4 PM
Sunday will feature artists from near and far hosted by New Haven’s entrepreneur-cum-salsera Alisa Bowens-Mercado and Omaha-based spoken word poet WithLove,Felicia. The event lineup includes Connecticut poets Darlene Kascak and AnUrbanNerd (Josh Brown) and dance groups Team Leggoo and Mulan Art School Dance Ensemble. Musical performances include genre-bending singer Durand Bernarr, R&B group the Kennedy Administration, and Ecuadorian accordionist, pianist, and composer Paco Godoy y su Gran Orquestra Internacional.
Vaccination Clinic
On both days, a mobile vaccination clinic in partnership with the New Haven Health Department will be onsite to administer FREE vaccinations (with incentives, including donated tickets from the Symphony in support of vaccination efforts) and answer questions.
Maritza Bond, Director of Public Health for the City of New Haven says, “We are pleased to have Arts & Ideas host a vaccine clinic for their upcoming event. They are true examples of community leaders who are contributing to our efforts towards protecting the community.”
RSVP Information
In order to prepare and better encourage audience safety and experience, Arts & Ideas is asking prospective attendees to RSVP via its website (artidea.org/LaborDay) or its Box Office at (203) 498-3771.
Safety Precautions
Audience members will be asked to mask-up and will be directed to socially distanced “pods” on the Green. For a full list of COVID-19 policies and an updated concert line-up please visit ArtIdea.org/LaborDay.
Arts & Ideas Executive Director Shelley Quiala says, “We are proud to celebrate New Haven and Connecticut’s tremendous wealth of artistic talent with two days of performances across genres. We’re also honoring frontline workers by encouraging audiences to protect our community the best way we can: to get vaxxed for FREE at a mobile clinic on the Green, in partnership with the City of New Haven. This is how we’ll ensure the future of artistic performances and create safe gatherings that support artists and audiences.”
About the International Festival of Arts & Ideas
The International Festival of Arts & Ideas is a year-round organization that culminates with an annual celebration of performing arts, lectures, and conversations each summer in New Haven, Connecticut. The Festival convenes leading artists, thought leaders, and innovators from around the world for dynamic public programs to engage, entertain, and inspire a diversity of communities. In 2021, more than 95% of Festival programs will be free to the public, including events that feature some of the most influential musical, dance, and theater artists of our time. To learn more, visit artIdea.org.
The Festival of Arts and Ideas is presented with major support from Yale University, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, Connecticut Office of the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts with additional support from The City of New Haven, the Avangrid Foundation in partnership with United Illuminating and Southern CT Gas, Connecticut Humanities, a non-profit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, media sponsor Connecticut Public, and our generous community of individual supporters.
About the New Haven Symphony Orchestra
The fourth-oldest orchestra in America, the New Haven Symphony Orchestra’s exceptional and accessible performances and education programs reach more than 40,000 audience members and 20,000 students each year. Innovative programming and a dedication to the commission of new works inspires deeper audience engagement and meaningful artistic and educational collaborations. Through the Harmony Fellowship for Underrepresented Musicians, as well as numerous award-winning education and community engagement programs, the Symphony strives to be a leader for racial equity in the arts. To learn more about the NHSO, visit NewHavenSymphony.org.
