Arts and Ideas Celebrates With Neighbors in 2021

ARTS AND IDEAS CELEBRATES WITH NEIGHBORS IN 2021
Virtual Neighborhood Festivals in Four Neighborhoods Curated by Residents

Spring is blossoming all around us, and there’s no better way to appreciate our city than celebrating with our neighbors. The International Festival of Arts & Ideas is honored to partner with four neighborhoods -- The Hill, Newhallville, West Rock/West Hills, and Dixwell - in presenting virtual Neighborhood Festivals organized by committees of community leaders from each neighborhood.

“ As a new resident of New Haven, it’s vital for me to listen to the needs of the community,” says Malakhi Eason, the Festival’s Director of Programming & Community Impact. “, It has been an incredible honor to learn from my new neighbors as these festivals develop and grow.”

Each Neighborhood Festival is organized by a committee of community members who curate and produce programming featuring local talent and issues vital to their community. From Grammy-nominated musicians to exercise workshops, talkbacks, and demonstrations by local organizations, each Neighborhood Festival showcases the talent and wisdom of its residents.

Dixwell Festival committee member and Festival Board member Diane Brown has seen the Neighborhood Festivals grow: “Each year the number of participants has grown exponentially. In 2019, our last live festival, we had upwards 1200 participants throughout the day,” she says. “We are currently planning for what hopes to be a live festival in 2022. The Dixwell neighborhood and beyond are grateful for this partnership and looking forward to future festivals.”

Each Festival is made possible by the City of New Haven’s Neighborhood Cultural Vitality Grant Program. “We are excited to provide support for the Neighborhood Festivals and the ongoing work of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas as its strengthens itsrelationship with the local community,” says New Haven Director of Cultural Affairs Adriane Jefferson. “Programs like these are instrumental to advancing cultural equity and making sure that people can engage in the arts and get opportunities, no matter who they are or where they are in the city of New Haven.”

Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center continues to be a longstanding partner in the organization of these festivals.

“The Neighborhood Festivals have become outreach staples for the Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center, says Michael R. Taylor, CEO. “We are excited to participate in celebrating the arts of the communities we serve. It is through great partnerships like the one with Arts & Ideas that enable us to continue our legacy of meeting our patients right where they are.”

Also supported by the NewAlliance Foundation and community members throughout the city, these Festivals will be streamed on the Festival’s Facebook Live, Youtube, and Twitch channels and on the Festival’s Virtual Stage. For more information on the Neighborhood Festivals and their scheduled performances, visit artidea.org/neighborhoodfestivals.

THE HILL, May 22, 1pm
Hillfest 2021 has an action-packed lineup. The Festival will feature virtual performances by R&B guitarist Manny James, the sensational stylings of Charisa The Violin Diva, and cap it all off with a showcase at the Hill Museum.

NEWHALLVILLE-,May 23, 1pm
Newhallville’s Neighborhood Festival has a smorgasbord of performances, featuring such flavors as the incredible Thabisa, the lyrical stylings of rapper T Ski Valley, a performance by community connectors Ice the Beef, a set by DJ Prime, the musical party known as the Wayne Brown Band and KP on the Set.


WEST ROCK /WEST HILLS, May 29, 1pm
This virtual concert event and town meeting hybrid features a discussion of Ward 30, a glimpse at Solar Youth’s programming in the neighborhood, an address from Committee Chairs Carlton Staggers & Iva Johnson and more, with performances by Corey Staggz & John the Violinist Randolph Duo, local dance and entertainment company MegaHurtz Entertainment, Pastor Burgess, funky ensemble Boogie Chillun, and more!

DIXWELL, June 5 at 12pm
An all-star virtual affair hosted by jazz artist, producer, two-time Grammy nominee and Dixwell favorite Chris “Big Dog” Davis, featuring Grammy-nominated, Soul Train Award-winning soul, jazz and R&B performer Maysa, Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame inductee Phil Perry, and Billboard Chart-topping urban and smooth jazz artist Nick Colionne.