Powell Street Festival wishes you

a Happy New Year!

 

Photo: Lyndsay Sung
 

Please consider supporting the Powell Street Festival to start off the new year and share with us your memories, opinions and feedback. We wish you all the best in 2013!

 

You know the Powell Street Festival as Canada’s largest Japanese-Canadian festival and the longest running cultural festival in Vancouver. You know we’ve been around since 1977 with a history of presenting exciting experimental works of art by local and international artists of Japanese descent.
 
But sometimes we get asked, “Why do you choose to stay in the Downtown Eastside?” Only a few Japanese Canadian organizations and individuals still call this neighbourhood home.
 
Our history is a part of Canadian history.  We hope that people do not forget our collective past and why Japanese Canadians were forced to leave their original community. We also don’t want people to dismiss the vitality of this community—one that is now comprised of Japanese Canadian individuals and history, as well as Downtown Eastside residents and organizations.
 
By continuing to celebrate the artistic strength and innovation of Japanese Canadians in the Downtown Eastside, we express the resilience and creativity of the human spirit and community. The Festival brings attention to the potential of all; celebrating the diversity of identity and reclaiming a sense of civic and national pride. The Powell Street Festival is part of what makes the Japanese Canadian community unique, but as the oldest community festival in Vancouver, it is also what makes Vancouverites unique. The Powell Street Festival welcomes over 12,000 attendees yearly, regardless of cultural background. As a free festival, we are accessible, open and welcoming to all.
 
So in the spirit of community, tell us, what does the Powell Street Festival mean to you?
Send us an email, a letter, give us a call - we want to hear from you!
Email us with your comments at info@powellstreetfestival.com
 
Please also consider making a tax-deductible donation to help us thrive and continue to celebrate the strength and diversity of Japanese Canadian creativity and community spirit in the Downtown Eastside. Show us how far the embrace of this Festival reaches, take ownership of the Festival that celebrates our community, and consider a donation. Your generous support will go far in ensuring the Powell Street Festival can continue to be a free festival, and to support local artists and the growing community that is our home!
 
Warmest regards and Happy New Year,
 

 
Kristen Lambertson
General Manager & Programming Director
Powell Street Festival Society
 
Donating is easy! You can either make a donation by mailing us a cheque or donate online!
BY MAIL:
Click HERE to download a PDF donation form to print and mail to our office: Suite 410-111 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC
or
ONLINE:
Click HERE for our Canada Helps charity profile to set up a one-time or monthly donation to support the Powell Street Festival!

POWELL STREET FESTIVAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:
We are gearing up for the 2013 Powell Street Festival!

1. If you would like to apply to be one of our marketplace, craft or display booth vendors, or would like to perform at the festival, application forms will be available online in February, and will be due at the beginning of March (date TBA).

2. For all Food Booth and Community Booth applicants, please contact us at our office in February to request an application.
You can reach us by email: info@powellstreetfestival.com or by phone: (604) 739 9388

*A friendly reminder that it is the applicant's responsibility to check in at our website HERE to download a form to apply or to contact our office to request an application form. Thank you!

COMMUNITY EVENTS:

http://centre.nikkeiplace.org/new-years-party/

To register, please visit: www.vancouver.ca.emb-japan.go.jp/en/culture.htm

SEND US YOUR EVENTS!