The once-sprawling National Black Arts Festival is notably smaller this year, with even fewer events than recent recession-trimmed gatherings, but for reasons other than fundraising challenges in a difficult economy.
There is no Legends Celebration, the crowd-pleasing concerts that paid soul-stirring tribute to the O'Jays last year and Curtis Mayfield in 2010. "Interpretations," launched last year as an annual gala honoring black visual arts pioneers, did not return. Nor did any dance program of consequence take the place of DanceAfrica!, an ambitious international program introduced last year. There are fewer art offerings and limited film showings.
But Michael Simanga, the former Fulton County Arts and Culture director who was appointed NBAF chief in February, said not to take all that as negative signs. "Pardon Our Progress" signs might be more accurate outside Centennial Park, where the heart of the fest pulses this weekend with the free Music Stage, International Marketplace and Children's Education Village.
"We are a vibrant and vital organization," Simanga said. "We're not retreating."
Retrenching, redefining and reloading are more like it.
The NBAF is transitioning into a year-round cultural presenter and, at the same time, preparing for a 25th anniversary celebration next summer that "will be so dynamic and so engaging," the executive director promised, "that it will remind people very much why this institution is so important."
Though the NBAF has been in a continual state of evolution from its first celebration in 1988, waxing and waning from several weeks to several days in length, Simanga believes 2013 will be more than a milestone anniversary year but also a time of transformation for the institution.
A key part is the development of a group of NBAF institutes, entities that will develop year-round programming and educational offerings in seven areas: literature, music, dance, theater, film, media and visual arts. While the NBAF will continue to collaborate with other Atlanta cultural groups for programming, these institutes each will be geared to produce content in-house for the months leading up and during the following year's festival.
Though details of the institutes have not been announced yet, Simanga mentioned as an example a visual arts documentary project launching this summer called "Ride" that will involve 25 artists across disciplines riding MARTA together one day and then developing, among other public offerings, a curated exhibit on the theme for next summer's festival.
"One of the things we've been looking at is how does art and culture create the platform for us to convene various people, various communities, various cultural traditions so that we gain greater understanding of each other," Simanga said. "We're finding different ways to utilize art to ... get us in a conversation."
The NBAF also plans to produce more publications and to enhance its website to make its programs more accessible to students from kindergarten to graduate school.
If the institutes are successful, Simanga believes it will make NBAF, operating this year on a budget of just under $2 million, more "impactful" and "sustainable."
Toward that end, the festival is seeking more avenues for earned income and also has established a Visionary Committee of individuals who support the institution at the $5,000 level annually, receiving perks such as tickets to Saturday's black-tie gala honoring Ruby Dee and invites to private events. (Basic memberships are also available at $35; $25 for students/seniors.)
"Being around 25 years in and of itself is a victory, right?" Simanga asked rhetorically. "When you think about the economy of the last four years and the devastation of the arts community, it's a victory to be here every day."
EVENT
National Black Arts Festival
Centennial Park through Sunday. Music Stage offers "nu soul" and classic funk at 5-9:45 p.m. Friday, children's programming noon-4 p.m. Saturday, a soul music-dominated lineup 5-9:45 Saturday night and a multi-genre lineup noon -6 p.m. Sunday. International Marketplace open 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday, noon-8 p.m. Sunday. 404-730-7315, www.nbaf.org.
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