Welcome to Seattle Center
SEATTLE (June 13, 2022) – Seattle Center Festál continues with Festival Sundiata presents Black Arts Fest, an in-person festival Friday, June 17 through Sunday, June 19 in the Armory Food & Event Hall, the Fisher Pavilion Rooftop and the Mural Amphitheatre. This year’s festival has a lineup of performers, vendors and food that visitors are sure to enjoy in celebration of Juneteenth and Father’s Day.
“My passion is to share Black arts with the community,” said Board Member, Carl Copeland.
Guest artists from across the country will convene in Seattle, including The Bar-Kays, Rick James’ Original Stone City Band, The Queens of Soul Jazz, Saeed Renaud and Kalimba. Other activities feature an art gala, youth drill and dance teams, a children’s village, an African dance troupe and African drum circles. Other festival highlights include a marketplace with over 60 vendors, Tuskegee Airmen, Buffalo Soldiers, and the American History Traveling Museum: The Unspoken Truths.
“The Black arts scene is alive and well in Seattle and this is an exciting opportunity to engage and celebrate,” said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. “Let's build One Seattle through vibrant artistic expression, honoring our dynamic communities and sharing common experiences with one another."
The free and open to the public festival boasts a family reunion-atmosphere with fun for visitors of all ages. Festival Sundiata celebrates Black culture and educates the community on the contributions of African Americans who form a melting pot of cultures.
“Festival Sundiata is one of our most robust Festál festivals,” said Seattle Center Director Robert Nellams. “Celebrating Black arts is integral to Seattle’s wider community, and Festival Sundiata ensure visitors have a great time doing it.”
Millions of people have been touched by the Festival Sundiata experience and come back annually. The free programs will be even more entertaining with great production value and classic performances. Most importantly, Festival Sundiata creates an opportunity to bring families and diverse communities together in unprecedented ways.
About Festival Sundiata
Festival Sundiata (pronounced: Soon-jah-tah) is the longest-running African American festival celebrated in the Pacific Northwest and Seattle, holding its first festival in 1980. The festival is named in honor of Sundiata Keita, the historic and legendary Mansa (King of Kings) of the Mali Empire in West Africa. King Sundiata rescued his people’s griot and created one of the most significant cultural and economic kingdoms in Africa.
Information on the festival is available at festivalsundiata.org and www.seattlecenter.com, as well as on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
About Seattle Center Festál
Seattle Center Festál cultivates a deeper understanding of the cultures and ethnic diversity that contribute to the rich vibrancy of the Pacific Northwest. This unique series links together 24 free festivals presented on weekends from February to November, each with its own cultural focus, identity, and range of engaging activities. 2022 commemorates the 25th Anniversary of Festál, ushering in a new era of hybrid programs during this anticipated return to in-person events. Seattle Center Festál is where the world will gather to celebrate the people, the places, the stories, the traditions, and the next 25 years of innovation. Seattle Center Festál is produced in partnership with 24 different community groups and supported by 4Culture, City of Seattle, and Seattle Center Foundation. Festál is also part of the ArtsFund Cultural Partners Network.
About Seattle Center
Seattle Center is celebrating 60 years with all that is “New, Now, and Next” as Seattle’s hub for arts, sports, community events, and cultural festivals. Originally built for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, the dynamic 74-acre campus has transformed over the years to respond to, reflect, and represent the region’s ever-broadening community. Seattle Center and its iconic International Fountain are often referred to as the “Heart of Seattle,” serving as a treasured community gathering place where the local, regional, national, and international visitors come together every day. Today more than 30 cultural, educational, sports and entertainment organizations reside on the grounds, along with a diverse variety of public programs and thousands of events attracting more than 12 million visitors each year. At Seattle Center, part of Uptown Arts & Cultural District and home to Climate Pledge Arena, our purpose is to create exceptional events, experiences, and environments that delight and inspire the human spirit to build stronger communities. Activities at the Center generate $1.864 billion in business activity and $631 million in labor income.
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Note:
Photos, b-roll, and pre-event/event-day interviews with festival producers, performers, and special guests are available upon request.
Contact:
Meghan McLaughlin, meghan.mclaughlin-c@seattle.gov
