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Soul Of Russia International Festival Of The Peoples Of The North

The Soul of Russia International Festival of the Peoples of the North was held during the SPIEF 2023 at the Lenfilm studio. The aim of the Soul of Russia Festival is to increase the contribution made by the creative industries to the Russian economy and to promote national values globally, while also supporting the development of the creative sector. This is one of the events scheduled to take place during Russia's chairmanship of the Arctic Council in 2021–2023, the operator of the event being the Roscongress Foundation.

The Festival focuses on the contemporary reinterpretation of the traditions, historical heritage, and unique handicrafts of the indigenous peoples of the North. More than 500 musicians, artists, craftsmen, designers, lecturers, and other representatives of creative industries from 15 Russian regions took part in the Festival. The event featured 14 exhibitions, more than 20 workshops, and 16 film screenings as part of the Spirit of Fire Academy's Northern Film Festival, including a preview screening of "The Yugra Novellas". Six ethnic dwellings and works by seven street artists were also on display at the Lenfilm studio. The program included more than 30 lectures, seven fashion shows, and performances by over 30 music groups. The festival featured a dance team from the Indian Embassy and a delegation from the UAE, who presented a dance group performance, treated guests to a national tent and conducted various workshops. More than 5,000 people attended the Festival events.

An agreement on developing cultural cooperation was signed on 14 June, the opening day of the Soul of Russia Festival. The document was signed by Nadezhda Preobodnaya, Secretary of State and Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, Natalya Komarova, Governor of Yugra, and Alexander Stuglev, Director of the Roscongress Foundation.

"The achievements of the creative industries are traditionally well represented at major Russian business events. At the Soul of Russia Festival, SPIEF participants were able to appreciate the impressive results of efforts to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of the peoples of Russia's North. The socio-cultural aspect of the development of the northern regions remains one of our top priorities," said Anton Kobyakov, Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation and Executive Secretary of the Organizing Committee of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

"As part of the cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and the Roscongress Foundation enshrined in the agreement, Yugra undertakes to create an ecosystem for developing creative industries and training personnel. In this context, the Creative Industries School project of Russia's Ministry of Culture is being successfully implemented in the region. A delegation of its students worked here at Lenfilm making an animated film about SPIEF. We will soon see the results of this work," said Yugra Governor Natalya Komarova.

The Soul of Russia Festival was sponsored by the Ministry of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic.

As part of the Festival, a session called "Film-Making in the Arctic: Dialogue between Nature and Technology" was also held at the stand of the Ministry for Development of the Russian Far East and the Arctic, where participants looked at various aspects of organizing film production in Arctic regions.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Essence Festival 2023: Previewing The Experiences

While big name artists like Megan Thee Stallion, Missy Elliott and Lauryn Hill are rocking the Caesars Superdome, there is plenty more of the Essence Festival of Culture going on at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The festival hosts "experiences" — unique areas dedicated to beauty, health, fashion, business and other topics impacting Black culture, especially Black women — with keynote speakers, vendors, panels, workshops and more across the Convention Center.

Below is a round-up of this year's experiences. All experiences are free to attend and take place 9:30 a.M. To 5 p.M. June 30 through July 2 in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center unless otherwise noted. Registration for in-person general admission is required via essence.Com. Many programming specifics have not yet been announced, so look for the latest on the fest's website and on the Essence Fest app.

Events take place Thursday, June 29, through Monday, July 3, at the Caesars Superdome, Convention Center and other venues.

Afropunk BLKTOPIA and Krewe Ball

Arts, culture and news platform Afropunk highlights radical Black creatives working in alternative music genres, film, fashion, books and the arts. They also organize music and arts festivals in Brooklyn, Miami, Bahia, Brazil, and other cities. At Essence, Afropunk will host BLKTOPIA, a daily immersive experience at the convention center, as well as Krewe Ball, a series of after-dark parties featuring secret performances and celebrity DJ sets on June 29, June 30 and July 2 at the Joy Theater. Krewe Ball tickets are $25 general admission and $80 VIP.

BeautyCon: EFOC Edition

Founded in 2012, BeautyCon is a platform focused on the beauty, fashion and lifestyle communities, and prior to the start of the pandemic, it organized popular conventions around those topics in Los Angeles and New York. Essence Ventures acquired BeautyCon in 2021 and is re-launching the in-person beauty convention later this year in Los Angeles. But first, they're hosting a pre-debut experience at Essence Fest featuring leading voices in the beauty industry, especially those that champion Black beauty and self-care. House of Tulip co-director Mariah Moore, actor and model Amiyah Scott, and celebrity hairstylist Tater Pazon are on this year's lineup.

Essence Authors

The festival hosts authors for daily book readings, interviews and signings. Among this year's authors are Sierra Tribble, Clarence Haynes, Debra Lee, Van Garret, Derrick Young and Kim Johnson. The experience is

Sabrina Fox and Phoebe Smith-Hinton check out clothing at the convention center during the 2018 Essence Festival.

Photo by Brett Duke / The Times-Picayune Community Corner

The festival's Community Corner features tables and information booths by organizations focused on Black economic empowerment, civil rights and activism.

Family Day

Essence hosts a family-friendly party 10 a.M. To 6 p.M. Monday, July 3, at Armstrong Park featuring New Orleans musicians, artists, food vendors including seafood, and kids' activities. This year's lineup includes Big Freedia, The Soul Rebels, Flagboy Giz, Pell, Tonya Boyd-Cannon, the Original Pinettes Brass Band, Reup Reedy, Raj Smoove and Sheba Songz.

Essence Film Festival

The film festival inside the festival will feature screenings, live screenplay readings, panel discussions, workshops for filmmakers and more. Film festival specific tickets and the schedule will be released soon via essence.Com.

Food & Wine Festival

Essence last year launched its Eats: Food & Wine Festival to highlight chefs, restaurants and dishes connecting the African diaspora, from New Orleans Creole cuisine to Caribbean fare and African specialties. The experience is back with food-focused events and Black-owned wines and spirits — but a list of participants hasn't yet been announced.

Audience members grab cell phone photos during the Essence Fest 2016 Empowerment sessions.

Photo by Dinah Rogers / The Times-Picayune Get Lifted

Essence brings a little church to the festivities and celebrates the gospel tradition — in a city where the Black church is the cornerstone of so many musicians' foundations — with a gospel celebration, starting at 9:30 a.M. Sunday, July 2, in the convention center.

In His Zone: Men's Experience

As a publication and through its Festival of Culture, Essence has historically been — and remains — focused on Black women. But last year, the festival launched In His Zone, an experience supporting Black men with vendors, speakers and panels focused on everything from finance and sports to men's fashion, health care and grooming.

Essence Stage

The center stage in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center will feature interviews, keynotes and special presentations from Black movers and shakers. This year's lineup includes Kimberle Crenshaw, Dr. Eric D. Griggs, Kid 'N Play and Briana Myles Morales. There also will be performances by artists like $leazy EZ, Justin Garner and RKHTY.

Vice President Kamala Harris returns to the Essence Festival of Culture to take part in the Global Black Economic Forum.

Photo by Scott Threlkeld / The Times-Picayune Wellness House

This portion of the festival will feature exercise and movement classes as well as vendors and sessions focused on mind, body and spiritual health. The lineup includes Get Well With Elle, Alice Benjamin, Dr. Robin B. And Tarah Hines.

Global Black Economic Forum

As an organization, the Global Black Economic Forum is focused on breaking down economic barriers faced by the Black community through policy advocacy, business education and leadership development. Each year, GBEF also hosts a summit during Essence Fest featuring CEOs, entrepreneurs, policy makers and activists. Among this year's participants will be Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, United Nations Ambassador (and Louisiana native) Linda Thomas-Greenfield and EPA Administrator Michael Regan. For a schedule of events, check out gbef.Com or the Essence app.

GU Creators House and Kickback

Girls United is Essence's platform for young Black women, featuring content created by Gen Z for Gen Z. At Essence Fest, GU will host Creator's House at The Sugar Mill, across from the convention center, where young creatives can network, collaborate and learn from some of the biggest influencers. And on Friday and Saturday nights, The Sugar Mill will host the GU Kickback after-party. Tickets for the GU Kickback are $25 general and $80 VIP.

SOKO MRKT and SOKO NO.LA

Giving space for Black- and women-owned businesses has always been a key part of Essence Fest. The SOKO MRKT (formerly the Essence Marketplace) will feature businesses selling everything from clothing, handmade jewelry and accessories to visual art and unique goods.

There also will be a unique SOKO NO.LA area held 9:30 a.M. To 5 p.M. June 30 through July 2 in the Hilton Hotel parking lot featuring around 50 New Orleans area retail vendors and eight food vendors. Retail vendors include a master jeweler and silversmith, and there's art from a Black women-owned gallery, children's books, vinyl records and more for sale. There also will be tables from the New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce and other organizations.

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Rosslyn Jazz Fest To Return In September For Its 31st Year

Rosslyn Jazz Fest crowd (photo via Rosslyn Business Improvement District)

Crowds watch a performance at a previous Rosslyn Jazz Festival (photo via Josh Brick Photography)

Vendors at a past Rosslyn Jazz Festival (photo via Yassine El Mansouri for Arlington Arts)

Rosslyn Jazz Fest (file photo)

The Rosslyn Jazz Fest is returning for its 31st year, with groups coming from as near as across the Potomac and as far as New Orleans.

The free outdoor event will take place on Sept. 9 from 1-7 p.M. In Gateway Park (1300 Landston Blvd).

Throughout the afternoon, performers will take the stage to play a variety of music styles, from R&B to soul and hip-hop to traditional jazz, a press release said. There will also be food trucks and games for attendees to enjoy.

Headlining the event is New Orleans-based quintet Galactic, which has performed with famous acts such as Dave Matthews Band and the Allman Brothers Band, and at high-profile venues, including Coachella.

Other groups include:

Cuban percussionist Pedrito Martinez

D.C.-based Oh He Dead, a six-piece group known for playing everything from soul to rock and putting on energetic live shows

DuPont Brass, a nine-person group that got its start playing in D.C. Metro stations

"Over the last three decades, Jazz Fest has become Arlington's largest outdoor music festival that the community has come to know and love," said Mary-Claire Burick, the president of the Rosslyn Business Improvement District, which co-sponsors the event. "Jazz Fest exemplifies the vibrancy of our region and this year's diverse lineup of artists will fill Gateway Park and bring us together to enjoy an afternoon of great music and fun with family and friends."

This year's lineup will get audience members jazzed about the wide-ranging genre, according to Josh Stoltzfus, the director of the Arlington County Cultural Affairs Division.

"Fueled by the deep creative well of jazz and its extensions, Jazz Fest is a showcase for artists who are inspired to take music in new directions," he said in a statement. "From the Afro-Cuban jazz throughline of Pedrito Martinez, to Galactic's fresh take on the musical mash-up of New Orleans traditions, to the soulful Oh He Dead, this year's high-energy mix of genres will keep audiences on their feet."

Ticketing for the festival will open on Aug. 1. Guests are not required to register for the event, however, it is encouraged in accordance with the park's capacity limits, the festival webpage said.

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