DC Mayor Declares May 2011 International Cultural Awareness Month
DC Mayor Declares May 2011 International Cultural Awareness Month
With Festivals, Embassy Open Houses, and Special Events All Month, Cultural Tourism DC’s Passport DC Presents a Global Journey through the National Capital
Washington, DC – Mayor Vincent Gray proclaimed the month of May 2011 International Cultural Awareness Month in honor of Cultural Tourism DC’s Passport DC. Passport DC is a month-long celebration of international culture that takes DC visitors and residents on a global journey though Washington, DC. Now in its fourth year, Cultural Tourism DC’s Passport DC explores the international and diplomatic community that is a vital part of DC culture through street festivals, open houses, embassy events, special performances, and much more. This proclamation marks the second year that the DC mayor honors Cultural Tourism DC’s Passport DC; Mayor Adrian Fenty declared May 2010 International Cultural Awareness month in recognition of Passport DC as well. All Passport DC events are open to the public and most are either free or a low cost.
“Cultural Tourism DC is honored that Mayor Gray recognizes the significance of Passport DC,” said Cultural Tourism DC Executive Director Linda Donavan Harper. “Only in Washington, DC, a truly global city, could you have a celebration like this. Both Cultural Tourism DC and Mayor Gray appreciate that Washington’s many embassies and international organizations influence the culture of DC. Passport DC serves as a gateway for exploring the world that is located in our own backyard.”
This year Passport DC will feature a new signature event. Kid’s World Cinema, a celebration of international children’s cinema, will join the Passport DC event line-up on May 13 – 14 and May 20 – 22. Alliance Française de Washington presents this series of film screening and arts and crafts workshops for children ages 5 – 12. All screenings are free.
The capstone event of Passport DC, the Around the World Embassy Tour, will take place Saturday May 14, 2011. From 10 am to 4 pm, 35 embassies, representing six continents, will open their doors to DC visitors and residents. Participants can travel the world as they experience the food, art, dance, fashion, and music of different countries. The Around the World Embassy Tour is a free event.
In addition to the Around the World Embassy Tour and Kids World Cinema, Cultural Tourism DC’s Passport DC includes:
- Short Cut to Europe: European Union Embassies’ Open House, May 7 – A tour inside the embassies of the European Union member countries and a showcase of the EU countries’ distinctive cultures. Presented in partnership with the European Union Delegation to the USA.
- National Asian Heritage Festival: Fiesta Asia Street Fair, May 21 –The Asia Heritage Foundation, in partnership with Passport DC, presents this street festival honoring the diverse cultures of Asia.
- Meridian International Children’s Festival, May 21 – The festival introduces the next generation of global travelers to cultures around the world. Presented in partnership with the Meridian International Center.
In addition to its signature events, Passport DC offers international events and activities including performances, lectures, concerts, and many other cultural happenings throughout the month.Highlights include:
- Music Performance - World Jazz: A series of special concerts at Twins Jazz Club exploring international jazz artists and global styles of jazz music.
- Art Exhibit - Philip Guston, Roma: A special exhibit at the The Phillips Collection of the works of Philip Guston. This exhibition of 39 paintings is the first to examine work Guston completed as artist-in-residence at the American Academy in Rome in 1970–71.
- Walking Tour - Embassy Row Walking Tour: A tour of the international history of one of DC most notable neighborhoods presented by Washington Walks.
- Theatrical Performance – Cyrano: This romance of 17th-century swashbuckling France endures as Cyrano uses his gift for wit and wordplay to help his tongue-tied friend Christian woo the lovely Roxanne. Folger Shakespeare Library presents this classic by Edmond Rostand.
High resolution images are available upon request. A complete list of Passport DC events will be available at www.CultrualTourismDC.org.
Cultural Tourism DC’s Passport DC sponsors include Rosetta Stone; Lockheed Martin; DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts; The Coca-Cola Company; DAIMLER; the National Endowment for the Arts; AOL; Booze Allen Hamilton; Washington Convention Center and Sports Authority; and D.C. United.
About Cultural Tourism DC
An independent nonprofit coalition of more than 230 culture, heritage, and community-based organizations, Cultural Tourism DC and its members help residents and visitors experience DC’s authentic culture and heritage. For more information, visit www.CulturalTourismDC.org or call 202-661-7581.
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“The DC Jazz Jam has provided a tremendous boost to DC’s indigenous jazz scene. [The] cadre of fine musicians at Dahlak have managed to create a warm, inviting, encouraging, and creative environment at their weekly jam sessions, which is no small accomplishment. Experienced professionals, like myself, attend the jam to relax, stretch out musically, and network with other players. But at the same time, the DC Jazz Jam has proved to be the perfect setting for younger talent to come out, and have some of their first experiences playing in front of an audience and to learn their craft in the laboratory of a nurturing jam session. In this manner, the DC Jazz Jam is but the latest chapter in Washington’s long history with America’s classical music, jazz.”