2021 In the News

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
Our return to in-person programming invited the audience to IMAGINE with us, from Hair Art to Drag, a Gospel Brunch to Big Ideas discussing Black Futures, 15 Minute Cities, and Mutual Aid. Here are some of the press highlights from our season: 

• "What does your hair say about you? Malakhi Eason often wears his long braids woven into a golden crown. When the Boston native, 34, arrived in New Haven to assume his new role as program director for the city’s International Festival of Arts & Ideas, an idea came off the top of his head. The result is one of the festival’s showcase events, a Hair Art show celebrating the “human canvas” of hairstyling, taking place Saturday on the New Haven Green and via livestream." - The Boston Globe, June 16, "Glorying in the Art of Hair"
• "If you experienced the often sublime performances, excursions and workshops offered by the International Festival of Arts & Ideas last weekend, consider these images a chronicle of good memories." - The Daily Nutmeg, June 23, "Seize the Days"
• "Lucia was a host, historian, storyteller and spiritual support Sunday night, as she and drag queens from across the state brought the International Festival of Arts & Ideas to a close with the Legend Drag Show on the festival’s main stage on the New Haven Green. Held on the last weekend of Pride Month and one night before the 52nd anniversary of the Stonewall Riot, the show took the audience through decades of queer history through drag." - The Arts Paper, June 29, "Legend Drag Show Brings Queer History to the Mainstage"
• "Giant birds in flight. Trees swaying in a light breeze. A child dancing in a dinosaur costume. A fading mural restored. They’re part of Here’s Another Story, a project that uses a virtual-reality phone app to allow people to walk the streets of Ninth Square and, through their phone screens, watch the public art there bloom into festive, fun, and meaningful animation. Here’s Another Story, from artist Marc Pettersen, is part of the International Festival of Arts and Ideas as it swings into its second year of Covid-19-era programming with a mix of outdoor and virtual events. Pettersen’s project is, in a sense, a combination of both." - The New Haven Independent, May 18, "Virtual Reality Artist Makes Walls and Streets Move"
• "Festival staples, upended by by the coronavirus pandemic last year, have resurfaced, the biggest one being free concerts on New Haven Green. Walking tours and bike tours are also back, though the satellite “neighborhood festivals” which supplement the main festival by bringing local talent to four key sections of the city will be done virtually for the second year in a row." - The Hartford Courant, April 29, "Arts & Ideas Returns to Live Performance with Dance, Jazz, World Music and Drag Shows"

So far the Festival's 2021 season has received dozens of articles' worth of coverage, including:


BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS
Connecticut Public, "Appreciating the Beauty and Culture of Black Hair"
NBC Connecticut, "International Festival of Arts and Ideas Makes In-Person Return to New Haven"
WTNH-TV, "International Arts and Ideas Festival makes a Return to New Haven in 2021"


OTHER COVERAGE
Daily Nutmeg, "Rain & Shine"
Waterbury Republican-American, "In the Wings: Theater Venues Coping with COVID-19"
Connecticut Public, "New Haven Labor Day Festival Focuses on Frontline Workers, Vaccinations"
New Haven Independent, "A&I Goes Beyond Summer"
Hartford Courant, "New Haven's International Festival of Arts & Ideas switches Labor Day Weekend Theme to 'Vaxxes and Vibes'"
The Arts Paper, "Connecticut Storytellers offer Glimmers of Hope, Spoons of Power"
The Arts Paper, "Legend Drag Show brings Queer History to the Mainstage"
The Arts Paper, "Moving Towards Love: Four Artists Shape the Future"
New Haven Independent, "Chef Franco Creates a Summer Feast"
New Haven Register, "Youth Performance of 'Romeo and Juliet' at New Haven Arts & Ideas aiming to teach conflict resolution"
The Day, "Madeline Sayet solo show now streaming"
The Arts Paper, "Hair Show Hails the Crown, Honors Sharon Clemens"
Broadway World, "Ice the Beef presents ROMEO AND JULIET at the International Festival of Arts & Ideas"
The Arts Paper, "Virtual Juneteenth Keeps the Tradition"
New Haven Independent, "Beekeeping Sweetens Arthur Street"
New Haven Independent, "Gospel Brunch Takes Church Outside"
New Haven Independent, "Last Poet Invokes the Elements"
The Arts Paper, "On Opening Night, A&I Centers New Haven Voices"
WVIT-TV, "Arts & Ideas Makes In Person Return to New Haven"
WFSB-TV, "International Festival of Arts & Ideas Kicks off on Friday in New Haven"
WVIT-TV, "As Big In Person Events Return, New Haven prepares for Festival"
Times Square Chronicles, "Woolly Mammoth/Folger's Journey Flies high with the wise WHERE WE BELONG"
Broadway World, "BWW Review: Where we Belong at Woolly Mammoth Theatre"
MD Theater Guide, "Theater Review: Where we Belong"
The Arts Paper, "Envisioning Equity: Building an Enjoyable City for All"
New Haven Independent, "A&I Kelps itself to Bagels of the Future"
CT Voice, "Fresh Ideas"
The Arts Paper, "West Rock/West Hills Brings the Music Online"
New Haven Independent, "Saturday in the Park with Arts on Call"
New Haven Independent, "Indigenous Writers form the Backbone at A&I 'Big Read'"
The Arts Paper, "Hill Festival Keeps the Beat Going Online"
Hartford Courant, "Pride Month in CT: Protests and Prom, Music and Marches, Drag Shows art and celebrations to affirm all LGBTQ People"
The Arts Paper, "In a year upturned, Manny James keeps the music coming"
Patch, "Pride Center, Arts & Ideas Fest Hold Racial Justice Day of Action"
The Arts Paper, "Kinship as an Indigenous Climate Solution"
Hearst Media (15 publications), "Making your plans for June? Check out the shows and concerts coming up"
CT Post, "2021: The Year (some) Summer fairs & festivals return to CT"
New Haven Independent, "'Arts on Call' Parties in Hamden"
New Haven Independent, "Kawit! Makes Adobo Sweet"
Connecticut Magazine, "Things to do in Connecticut in June 2021"
New Haven Independent, "Virtual Reality Artist Makes Walls and Streets Move"
New Haven Independent, "Arts on Call Brings Sunshine in the Rain"
New Haven Register, "New Haven Breaks out "Big Dog" - and much more- for Arts & Ideas Neighborhood Festivals"
Republican-American, "Start drag-gin' this fest around- Festival of Arts & Ideas opens this Friday"
Connecticut Post, "After Passage of the CROWN Act, CT Artists explore the world of Natural Hair"
Daily Nutmeg, "Real Imagination"
New Haven Biz, "International Festival to Bring Music, Food, Entertainment"
Patch, "What you need to know about New Haven's Festival of Arts & Ideas"
Broadway World, "WHERE WE BELONG world premiere film adaptation Now Filming at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company"
Hartford Courant, "Arts & Ideas returns to live performance with jazz, dance, world music and drag shows"
Hartford Courant, "Connecticut Shakespeare Theaters plan comedy, smaller summer performances"
Hartford Courant, "International Arts & Ideas festival's Ideas Portion, 'Imagine,' a call to 'weave the new reality together'"
Broadway World, "League of Professional Theater Women Celebrates Women's History Month at Hartford Stage and More"
Hartford Courant, "State COVID Guidelines won't determine when performing arts venues open"
New Haven Register, "Seeking Entertainment: Arts on Call supports performing artists during a pandemic"
CT Insider, "With relaxed standards, Greater New Haven Towns prepare for return of outdoor fun"