/24-7PressRelease/ - LOWELL, MA, July 26, 2008 - In an exciting fusion of film, fashion, world culture, and fair trade advocacy, The Fifth Annual New England Culture Fest benefit extravaganza returns to the Arts District of historic downtown Lowell, Mass. Enterprise Bank Parking Lot (2-10 PM) with twenty piece Brazilian powerhouse ensemble Samba Tremeterra complete with hot Carnival dancers and drummers trained under veteran master drummer Deraldo Ferreira of the Brazilian Cultural Center of New England heading up an all-star lineup of international rhythms for a Autumn Carnival you have never experienced before! From "Salsa Lessons Under the Sky" with Dan Marshall & Katalin Matyus of FreEMotion/LibrEMocion Repertory Company to African drums and flutes of Black Bear Moon Ensemble, and the amazing fire dancing tribal rock group Incus, and Vadalna Tribal Dance Company female belly dancing troupe - be a part of the tribute to the economic empowerment work of the non-profit organization, Second World (www.second-world.com). New Englanders will be transported to another place: immersed in the sights, scents and sounds of global culture! There will be the NECF Main Stage's hand painted backdrop by Lowell artist Gary Cadet and welcoming NECF fans will be the huge NECF Art Fence coordinated this year by artist Sarah Kolker running the length of the Lowell Arts District nerve center: Middle Street- all created by youth graffiti artists! Boston's own tribal rock gurus Incus, who have been deemed "up and coming progressive art rock" by The Boston Globe's Steve Morse will take the stage with a theatrical show of mesmerizing music and beautiful belly/fire dancing! La Tuza's authentic blend of Mexican roots music will get you moving early in the day, with a special guest appearance by gutsy rockers System Noise from New York City. The uplifting folk-rock of Every Good Boy will be a wonderful compliment to the bustling henna, face painting, children's activities during the day at the Ethical Art & Biz Expo! In between acts get your groove on to DJ Ray juggling innovative beats. Back at the NECF by popular demand will be an appearance by acclaimed masters, The Juanito Pascual Flamenco Quartet featuring the soulful vocals and unmistakable bold feet of the ultimate flamenco performers. D. Scott & The Family will heat up the Culture Fest with a delicious blend of empowering female led hip-hop / neo-soul grooves and as night falls find yourself immersed in a NECF hallmark of large scale interactive video installation art featuring the global images of The Second World Fair Trade Stories Film Archive headed by Boston's VJ Zebbler (of Aqua Teen Hunger Force fame). Also on tap: a scintillating fashion show from the "Fashionably Fair" advocacy program fusing fashion and fair trade in a stunning display of labels from as far away as the United Kingdom and India. Exclusive designs will be available in the NECF Silent Auction as well as more than 100 prizes at the NECF Raffle!
More than one hundred artists, ethical businesses, fair trade organizations and restaurants are expected to participate in NECF 2008, all of which is set for an international e-broadcast. Among the many festivities and surprises at the Culture Fest's Interactive Ethical Art & Biz Expo; Oxfam America will represent their "Make Trade Fair" campaign, while Green Mountain Coffee Roasters will be on hand with tasty fair trade coffee, Organic Valley goodies will circulate!
Event Partners include Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, The Boston Globe, 88.9 FM WERS, The Weekly Dig, Mother Jones, The Fair Trade Federation, Enterprise Bank, Transfair USA, Organic Valley, Empire Loans, The Boston Phoenix, Lowell Telecommunications Corporation, Lowell General Hospital, The Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce, Mahoney's Garden Center, Christian Party Rental, The City of Lowell, The Holiday Inn Andover Tewksbury, Lowell Boot Cotton Mill, and Fast Lane Music Productions. Raffles and prizes featuring prizes from 100 featured New England businesses, artists, fair trade organizations and craftspeople at NECF's Ethical Interactive Art & Biz Expo will also be ongoing throughout the day of the festival. The present echoes the past as in the spirit of the Lowell Mill Girls, Second World brings you an amazing event rallying for a better world for a very fair ticket price.
This is the Fair Trade Festival, being a unique event in the United States and globally highlighting the movement celebrating creative excellence, and the continuing struggle to provide a self-sustaining living wage and safe working conditions for artisans, musicians and workers worldwide.
The New England Culture Fest Mission Statement:
The funds raised via ticket sales to the festival will support Second World's art empowerment documentation projects around the world which go hand in hand with fair trade advocacy and educational programs (lectures, workshops) in the Boston area. On the Second World website under "Initiatives" please find information regarding Second World projects. They involve not only documentation and in-depth research, but also development of art empowerment projects and micro-credit funds to re-establish income generation in disaster/conflict affected regions. With funds raised from the New England Culture Fest, Second World will continue to develop these initiatives linking New England with communities throughout India, Nepal, Peru and Jamaica. The goal is to increase awareness of fair trade and increase the number of orders given to cooperatives, along with establishing a self-sustainable online portal of multimedia information regarding fair trade, and its cultural/economic impact for disadvantaged indigenous and marginalized communities. Eighty percent of Second World's beneficiaries are women.
Arts District, Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
Press Contact: Valerie K. Parker 978.455.6025
Web: SECOND-WORLD.COM Email: culturefest@second-world.com
501c3 BENEFIT EVENT Advance Tix $5, Admission $10, Children Under 12 Free
About Second World:
Bridging the gap between the so called "First" and "Third" World, with media, music and art.
Second World is a dynamic non-profit arts and development organization combining media, music and art for a better world. As a leader since 1998 dedicated to the marketing of fair trade artisans, and their stories, the nucleus of Second World is a multimedia research archive of educational tools for the fair trade marketplace. This is key to increasing the number of orders given to artisans involved with fair trade art projects. Based on a decade of research, Second World aims to address the crucial need for fair trade education. Ultimately, Second World hopes to bridge the gap between the "First" and "Third World" through media documentation, musical events and fair trade art empowerment.
"First" World. "Third" World. Forget What Your Were Told. Welcome to the Second World.
W W W .S E C O N D - W O R L D . C O M / W W W . C U L T U R E - F E S T . C O M
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