Under a tent full of elected officials, local and state officials, sponsors and community leaders, the Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community (P.E.C.) held on Friday its media kick off event of the 22nd Annual Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities–Zora! Festival.
Showing casing the best in arts and culture, while providing an exciting opportunity for festival goers to meet distinguished scholars, artists and entertainers, the 2011 Zora! Festival takes place from January 22-30.
President of P.E.C., Tom Kornegay, recalling the festival’s theme, “A Zora Neal Hurston Forum: Womanism, Feminism and Issues of Gender”, told the gathering there is much to celebrate with its focus on accomplished women and the island nation of Haiti.
To commemorate the one year anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, the festival will present a series of programs celebrating the diverse arts and cultural contributions of the island’s artists and musicians, including showcasing more than 150 pieces of art work.
Explaining the focus on Haiti, Executive Director, N.Y. Nathiri said, given the international nature of the festival and P.E.C.’s desire to do something practical, it was fitting to invite several of that country’s artists to participate in this year’s celebrations. Besides, Zora had spent time researching in Haiti, Nathiri added.
City of Orlando Commissioner, Samuel Ings said, despite everything that Haiti has gone through, remembering that country at such a great festival for arts and humanities, means a lot to the culture and its people.
Other highlights and new activities of the 2011 Zora! Festival include, the Eatonville Seminar on January 27th, where participants will get to experience Eatonville with historic tours to several venues and highlights of the “Zora’s Cosmos Tour”; World Beat Stage featuring Jazz, Latin sounds and Spoken Word performances at Club KOHA on E. Kennedy Boulevard; and “HATitude is Back!”, a fun fashion event at the Sonesta Hotel in Downtown Orlando.
As Orange County Commissioner Fred Brummer so aptly described, in his succinct remarks at today’s media event, “Zora speaks for itself”.
Kornegay used the media kick off to thank Zora! Festival’s many partners, including, Darden Restaurants Foundation, Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Visit Orlando, long term sponsors of the festival, as well as, Orlando Magic, OUC, Channel 6, Orlando Magic, and United Arts. Collaborative partners, including the City of Orlando, City of Maitland, Orange County, UCF and the Consulate of Haiti were all recognized for their support.
Eatonville Mayor Bruce Mount, who has been associated with the festival since its inception 22 years ago, albeit in a different capacity then, as an audio technician, put it best when he said, “We can’t forget the purpose we are here. It’s for the people.”
“Ain’t no Ville like Eatonville,” Mount said. “Come out and spend a lot of money.”
According to organizers, some 200,000 persons are expected to attend the week-long Festival.
