4th ANNUAL WEST PARK ARTS FEST CELEBRATING
PHILADELPHIA’S RICH ARTS AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY
West Park Cultural Center and the High School of the Future will present the 4th Annual West Park Arts Fest, featuring performances by a wide range of artists, many of whom have served as instructors and mentors to youth who will also perform. The Festival will take place in beautiful Fairmount Park on Saturday June 11th, from 11 am to 5 pm, inside and outside the High School of the Future at 4021 Parkside Avenue, rain or shine.
In addition to performances there will be a Youth Chess Tournament, sponsored by Brown’s Shoprite and hosted by ASAP, with prizes awarded. Also in the mix will be a free anime drawing workshop led by artist Janice Merendino, and we will end the Festival with a Poetry Slam hosted by Selina Carrera and Greg Corbin of Philly Youth Poetry Movement (PYPM), with the winner taking away a $100 prize. There will be arts and craft vendors and food.
“Art is life and what we create out of what it brings to us. Come celebrate the relationships and artistic growth West Park Cultural Center and its friends, old and new, have experienced over the past year since our last Festival. You’ll be amazed !”, says festival coordinator Patty Bulack.
We are excited to welcome Kyo Daiko, the Japanese taiko drumming group associated with our neighbor Shofusu Japanese House. Some of the featured new players will be students from High School of the Future! Come experience for the first time ever, improvised drum “call and response” between the School of the Future Drumline and Kyo Daiko! On the stage you will find singer Monica McIntyre, returning with her cello from New Orleans, and Brinae Ali, tap dancing and singing. Stand-up comics Ron Long and Dan Vetrano will perform, as well as Philly Improv Theater’s house comedy improv team Mayor Karen. Also performing will be hip hop dancers Chosen Dance Co., with a performance by The Bulack Brothers. Fearless Hyenas Stunt Team will provide a martial arts performance. House of Chayah will bring their special blend of spiritual music, and Take The Lead Dance Studio will provide a free salsa lesson and a brief dance party!
The indoor Children’s Pavilion will feature storytelling from Oni Lasana, and from Promise Ministries (historical storytellers), along with arts and crafts activities. We are excited to welcome our new friends “Sharp With Art Group” (SWAG) who will be providing fanciful face painting and on-the-spot drawings. We are also very proud to host an Alex’s Lemonade Stand, presented by the Robinson family. Their stand is called “Little Ladies Lemonade” because it will be run by five 2nd and 3rd grade girls who are happy to serve children with cancer in this way. Come support them, and this worthy cause during “National Lemonade Days” happening that weekend. In addition, Tree House Books will be hosting a book giveaway to children and young adults from their excellent collection. Don’t miss it!
The youth performances will include the Gideon School Band, The Kensington CAPA Drumline, and the SOTF Jazz Band. Also featured will be “The Young Talents of Music”, a band featuring young people from all over the city. Philly in Movement’s youth team will perform gymnastics and lead games afterwards for children in the audience. And musicians and rappers from West Park Cultural Center and Lil’ Drummaboy Recordings after school music program will also perform, led by artists Timi Tanzania, Veronica Underwood and Selina Carrera. In addition, there will be an “Act-Off”, hosted by actress Lenny Daniels (Black Magic Woman Productions) where young people get to try out their acting skills.
Join us! There will be something for everyone, of all ages!
Sponsors: Microsoft, Uplift Solutions & Brown's ShopRite, Lil' Drummaboy Recordings, ASAP and Zerflin
Supporting Partners: Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and Philadelphia Cultural Fund
Community Partners: West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, Community Education Center and Shofuso Japanese House and Gardens
