CHAT’s 7th Annual Hmong Art and Music Festival:
“HMONGLAND”
Saturday, August 16, 2008
The Festival is a celebration of culture for all ages and has become a tradition of sorts for the neighborhood and for the growing Hmong community in the Twin Cities. Last year, there was an estimated 3,000 people that attended. We only anticipate even more people this year.
“Where do the Hmong come from?” “Do the Hmong have a country of their own?” These are questions that are commonly asked of Hmong people. And, although the curiosity in these questions have a legitimate innocence to them, this notion of whether or not there is a Hmongland raises questions regarding how Hmong people are perceived both by Hmong and non-Hmong people. How does a population without a recognized country identify itself? How do residents of a displaced community respond to definition inside and outside of the community? These questions force an inward exploration of identity and worth for many Hmong and a world of wonderment for non-Hmong.
CHAT asks artists to consider these questions and to share how they imagine what HMONGLAND would be like. CHAT invites the community to witness HMONGLAND at the 7th Annual Hmong Arts and Music Festival on August 16, 2008.
HMONGLAND will be a celebration of the arts with original paintings and sculptures in the Visual Gallery, dance and musical performances on the Main Stage, live art and theatre, a showcase of artwork by youth at the Art Saves Us Tent, a cake decorating contest with Cakes By Fhoua, games, vendors, resources and food! Come as an artist, patron, vendor, enthusiast, tourist or resource – it’s a good time for all ages.
If interested in sponsoring any portion of the festival or donating items to the event, or if you’d like to submit artwork to the visual exhibit, please contact: Kathy Mouacheupao at 651-603-6971 or kathy@aboutchat.org. Download the Visual Arts Submission form here.
If interested in performing at the festival or entering the 3rd Annual In Session: Singer/ Songwriter Contest, please contact: Tou SaiKo Lee at 651-644-6969 or tousaiko@aboutchat.org. Download the Contest Entry Form here.
If interested in volunteering or getting a booth at the festival, please contact: Angie Hardy at 651-644-6969 or angie@aboutchat.org. Download the volunteer application here.