is a community platform in bringing African descented communities in order to celebrate African art, history, culture, & music within vancouvers's diverse communities and in British Columbia. About African Descent Festival
The African Descent Festival celebrates the cultural diversity of people of African Descent within Vancouver, BC and Canad history for the people of African Descent. Whil
e recognizing and promoting the United Nations international decade for the people of African Descent, UNESCO General History of Africa and attitudes of oneness among all ethnic African Descent groups and multicultural diverse communities in Vancouver BC, the event focuses on activating public spaces and bringing a diverse range of programming to connect stakeholders working avidly for the long term sustainability of this population. Canadians, specifically Vancouverites can enjoy and learn about different cultures and countries from Africa, some of which have strong embedded grassroots initiatives and history within the city. As this is a city event, it is envisioned to be free for the attendees with no admission fee but donations are encouraged as well as sponsorship opportunities. The goal of the platform for this year is to establish itself, while using the input gained to build on subsequent years. Culture and Art festivals are an amazing way to form strong bridges of which the team will look towards showcasing public art, installations, modern and traditional based showcases, night markets, crafts fair and musical performances. With a focus on rejuvenating the spirit of Hogan's Alley, this platform will work with a wide range of city groups, main street businesses, and at large Vancouver organizations to bring awareness to Vancouver’s prominent and growing African community! ADF’s target audience includes new immigrants and refugees, cultural groups throughout the lower mainland, young adults of African Descent, and the general public around the lower mainland, Fraser Valley, British Columbia and Canada as a whole. Vision
To build a society enriched and interconnected through African descent Canadian arts, history and culture with a mandate to build an African Heritage Cultural Centre at Hogan’s Alley. Values
Community Engagement: We thrive on and encourage community participation and social connectedness. Artistic Excellence: We cultivate and support talented artists and cultural producers. Accessibility: we program a wide variety of events and activities to appeal to and engage a diverse range of attendees and volunteers. Heritage: We honour Vancouver’s original people of African descent Canadian neighbourhood and its History our programming reflects the diverse perspectives of People of African descent heritage in Vancouver. Main Event Goals:
•Pay tribute to Hogan’s Alley Black Community entertainment and Black Community immigrants for the development of Vancouver Art, Cultural and Music Entertainment.
•Promote cultural diversity in the City of Vancouver
•Provide contacts for musicians, artists, culture groups in the community.
•Provide avenue for different ethnic groups to showcase their arts and cultures in the city
•Organize information booths that represent different cultures (these could be posters, food, games, music, souvenirs, etc.)
•Anything that could help educate people about different Arts, cultures and to celebrate diversity
•Promotion of local artists
•Building socially integrated society by building bridges among communities that promote intercultural understanding
•Fostering citizenship, civic pride, and respect for core democratic values grounded in Canadian history.
•Promoting equal opportunities for individuals of all origins in BC.
•Improving the responsiveness of institutions to become more responsive to diversity to integrating multiculturalism into their policy and program development and service delivery.
•Actively engaging in discussions on multiculturalism and diversity at the international level by promoting Canadian approaches to diversity as a successful model while contributing to an International policy dialogue on issues related to multiculturalism. (Funding for this objective will be primarily for activities that take place in Canada). Benefits to the City, and Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Some of the benefits to the city through this cultural festival are the recognition of the diversity within the city of Vancouver – as well as cultural avenues for attendees to gain knowledge about resources they we’re familiar with. The event will provide a boost for local African focused businesses, ranging from crafts, to food, fashion, hair salons, and much more which can connect with these immigrants and local citizens that might be unaware of their work. With a focus on promoting art and culture, there will also be an opportunity for information exchange leading to opportunities for furthering the city’s work on the built environment on behalf of the community.
