Grammy and Emmy-award winning artists, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, comediennes, songwriters and more will headline the 28th annual International Festival of Arts & Ideas this year.
The festival will kick off June 10 and run through June 25. More than 150 events (with 85 percent of them free) are scheduled to take place across multiple venues around New Haven.
This year’s theme, RISE, will celebrate everyone who faces challenges in life, but who can choose to “rise” above them with Arts & Ideas as their superpower, according to festival organizers.
The festival’s events and programs are geared to appeal to people of all ages and interests and, according to organizers, is one of the country’s only festivals of this size that brings together world-class artists, thinkers, scientists and innovators to celebrate art and discuss big ideas.
“Our goal is to present diverse programming that both entertains and inspires attendees, while broadening their perspective and deepening their understanding of the world we share,” said Shelley Quiala, festival executive director.
“Our festival goers can choose from interactive workshops, thought-provoking panels, musical concerts, dance performances, bike tours, culinary tours, walking tours, fashion shows, drag shows, cooking classes and so much more,” she added.
Grammy winner Angelique Kidjo will kick off the festival June 10, joined by the New Haven Symphony Orchestra. On June 17 and 18, co-presented with Long Wharf Theatre, Pulitzer Prize finalist and comedienne Kristina Wong will perform.
On June 17, keynote speaker Baratunde Thurston, an Emmy-nominated storyteller, producer and New York Times best-selling author, will share his perspective on the state of democracy.
World-touring jazz artist and piano player Matthew Whitaker will perform June 18.
On Thursday, June 22, three-time Grammy award-winning singer Jon Secada will perform on the New Haven Green with his band. Also performing on the Green will be Adams Sanders, better known as his drag persona, Ada Vox, a vocalist, songwriter and drag artist who appeared on American Idol. Other performers include Grammy-nominated contemporary string quartet Brooklyn Rider and Netflix actress Zainab Johnson.
This year’s ‘Ideas’ events will feature leaders at the center of cultural conversations that focus on such issues as climate change, democracy, artificial intelligence, global water crisis, clean cities initiatives, social equity and more.
There will be family-friendly events where children can try their hand at circus arts, participate in a musical about oceans, join a cooking class featuring plant-based eating, learn a dance routine that brings Winnie the Pooh to life through Afro beats and experience a multi-disciplinary performance inspired by the classic poem, Wynken, Blynken and Nod.
A highlight for children will feature Melbourne, Australia-based Polyglot Theater’s production of Bees. Additional international influences include Montreal’s theatrical production of Macbeth Muet, the National Dance Theater Company (NDTC) of Jamaica and New York-based and award-winning Heidi Latsky Dance.
Director of Programming & Community Impact Malakhi Eason noted “At the heart of this festival is the opportunity to present smart and entertaining programming about important ideas that help our audiences see others, themselves and the world differently.”
Festival Board Chairman Kevin Ewing added, “New Haven is one of the most diverse, creative and welcoming cities in New England. There is an energy here that makes it the perfect location to celebrate and build community through arts and ideas.”
While 85 percent of the events are free, tickets for selected events can be purchased online at www.artidea.org.
