International Festival of Arts and Ideas
Like watermelon, beach days, and all other things good, The International Festival of Arts and Ideas comes with every summer. Now in its fourteenth year, New Haven’s gem of fusion corrals international events from over 75 countries. Like its name suggests, the two-week festival showcases both arts and ideas in the form of live music, theatre, dance, discussion panels, classes, and tours.
Last weekend, the festival opened with two free concerts from Buckwheat Zydeco and Slavic Soul Party–altogether, a Global Dance Party–and They Might Be Giants, not to mention bike tours, a children’s film festival, walking tours, a foodie tour, an “ideas” discussion panel featuring video game luminaries, films, films, films, and the Favorite Poem Project with Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky.
This weekend, join the festival for an open rehearsal, and performances, of Reggie Wilson and Andreya Ouamba’s “The Good Dance-dakar/brooklyn”, walking and bike tours of New Haven, a celebration of Connecticut bands, the conductor-less string orchestra Sejong, the bluegrass band Goldrush, soul legend Mavis Staples, and the Village of Villages, a cultural and communal creative exchange.
With 85% of its events free of charge, the festival stays alive during the week as well. I had the pleasure of enjoying a rare sunny day on Wednesday watching Caravan of Thieves, Arti Dixson Quartet, and Cobalt Rhythm Kings perform on the green. Connecticut residents and families gathered around the stage with picnic baskets, blankets, and lawn chairs, which they quickly abandoned to dance. The mark of any good festival is the conversation between the artists and the audience, and at the concerts I attended, the two were chatting comfortably like old friends.
Like the arts and ideas it boasts, the festival’s website is both comprehensive and cutting-edge. With vivid animation, crisp videos and images, and an intimate description of each event/artist, the website is almost as fun as attending the festival itself. Almost.
Category: Reviews, Things To Do, This Weekend
About the Author (Author Profile)
I was born to “My Girl” by The Temptations, and I eat breakfast at least twice a day. I live both on the internet and in my imagination.
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
Great post! Hopefully I’ll be able to make it out this weekend! And you’re totally right – their website is great!
Agreed. Great post! I think I’m checking out one of the walking tours in New Haven today after work.
Pretty nice post. I just came across your blog and wanted to say
that I’ve really liked reading your blog posts. Anyway
I’ll be subscribing to your blog and I hope you write again soon!
Thanks for your support! Sarah, glad we could catch your eye.