Wednesday 24 June 2015

Artist registration for Festival of Pacific Arts ongoing

The Northern Mariana Islands Festival of Pacific Arts or FESTPAC Organizing Committee is now accepting applications from NMI artisans interested in participating in the 12th Festival of Pacific Arts in Guam in May 2016.

The FESTPAC Organizing Committee is asking local artisan groups and individuals interested in representing the NMI in any of the following categories to submit a registration form with the Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture by June 15, 2015:

Performing arts 

• Traditional dance • Drama/theatre • Oral chants • Oratory and storytelling • Music • Jamz House

Literary Arts

• Traditional storytelling/oratory • Publications

Pacific Island stories and novels


Pacific biographies and journals

• History • Theater • Fashion • Indigenous language

Demonstrations/exhibition

• Visual arts • Floral arts • Culinary arts • Canoe and navigation • Children’s art show • Photography • Tattooing • Traditional healing • Body ornamentation • Carving works • Handicrafts • Film festival • Traditional games

Demonstration/Exhibition 

• Fire walking • Weaving • Fishing and hunting traditions

Forums, workshops, seminars


Interested groups and individuals should contact Feofaaki McMahon at the Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture at fe_mcmahon@yahoo.com or 670.322.9982/3. The 12th Festival of Pacific Arts will be held on May 22-June 4, 2016, in Guam. The Northern Marianas has received approval from Guam to increase its number of delegates from 150 to 250.

“We invite serious local artists to register and apply so that our unique indigenous cultures, traditional knowledge, and customary practices native to our Marianas cultural homeland are displayed at this premier cultural Olympics for the world to witness and appreciate,” said FESTPAC Organizing Committee Chair John DLR. “Bolis” Gonzales.

The selection of participants will be made by the Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture based on a set of criteria. Upon selection, delegates will be asked to pay a $50 non-refundable deposit to secure their registration and will receive an official letter of selection as an endorsement for fundraising purposes. Gonzales also announced that the committee has registered the business CNMI FESTPAC as a non-profit organization. The organization is comprised of co-vice chairs Perry P. Tenorio and Gordon Marciano, secretary Gloriana M. Teuira with the following subcommittees: Program, co-chaired by Gordon I. Marciano and Frances M. Sablan; Logistics, co-chaired by Jose T. Limes and Parker Yobei; and Finance, with Margaret “Abick” R. Muna and Martin F. Duenas as co-treasurers.

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