"The artists and thinkers we invite to the Festival represent among the best in world culture," says USIBF founder Malaika Adero, a book editor and author herself. "Our goal is to connect readers with writers, expand the audience for great artistry and give greater recognition to deserving talent
[Black Star Books]
Not since the Harlem Renaissance reigned supreme has Harlem featured such a hotbed of artistic excellence.
Now in its second year, the Up South International Book Festival (USIBF) is bringing together an international cast of writers, poets, dancers, musicians, and filmmakers, to celebrate the craft of storytelling by and about people of color from the world over.
Co-presented with Harlem Stage at the Gatehouse on Convent Avenue and West 135th Street, The USIBF programs will consist of five evenings and two days of dialogues and performances, featuring established and emerging artists, representing a diversity of cultures and countries, including Iran, Jamaica, Great Britain, Senegal and Guadeloupe beginning on September 19, 2007.
Writers, Martha Southgate, Tina McElroy Ansa, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Amiri Baraka and Maryse Conde, musicians Jason Moran, Anthony David and Gordon Chambers, and filmmaker Shirin Nashat are just a handful of confirmed participants. And for the first time a full day of children’s activities will be included in the festival program, featuring children’s book authors such as Faith Ringgold and hip-hop artist, Common.
“The artists and thinkers we invite to the Festival represent among the best in world culture,” says USIBF founder Malaika Adero, a book editor and author herself. “Our goal is to connect readers with writers, expand the audience for great artistry and give greater recognition to deserving talent,” Adero says. “Our mission is to fulfill the desire that so many people have for art and literature that inspires as well as entertains. This festival offers something special for all ages and a diversity of interests.”
Up South is a curated book festival. In other words, from the abundance of great contemporary storytellers in all media, we invite those who either have an extraordinary body of work, or new voices who display exceptional talent and resonance with people of color.
Up South believes in the connectivity of all the arts and for that reason, music, dance and film events are part of the festival. Up South offers an opportunity to witness and engage with artists and writers in an intimate setting to provide a total artistic experience.
Up South Incorporated celebrates and promotes literary and artistic work by and about international communities of color particularly those underrepresented in mainstream media. Its annual Up South Festival presents the best in the arts and letters to stimulate dialogue about culture and values, to encourage serious and leisure time reading and writing and to provide more platforms to expose work of great merit.
All Events will be held at: Harlem Stage, 150 Convent Avenue at West 135th Street
Campus – City College of New York For Program Details please visit: www.upsouthbookfestival.com
Sponsored by: Simon and Schuster, The Virginia G. Piper Center, YB Literary Foundation, Poets & Writers, Hue-Man Bookstore & Café. Funded by Council Member Inez E. Dickens, 9th C. D., Speaker Christine Quinn and the New York City Council
This event was funded in part by Poets & Writers, Inc. with public funds from The New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency. Media Sponsors: Harlem World magazine and Experience Harlem
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