Lack of Funds Postpones Concord Multicultural Festival

The 10th Concord Multicultural Festival has been postponed from a September date due to challenges raising the funds to produce and organize an event worthy of a decade of celebrating Concord’s cultural diversity.

The annual event highlights art and culture of a myriad of residents in the Concord community but due to resources being thin for many nonprofits this year, according to Jessica Fogg Livingston, the event’s organizer, it was felt that a delay was in order.

“It is important to the festival’s founders and donors that the Concord Multicultural Festival truly represent and celebrate our community’s cultural diversity and be worth of commemorating the 10th annual event,” she noted.

The festival has been rescheduled to Saturday, June 25, 2016. Livingston said that she and fellow organizers will use the time to employ additional outreach and promotional opportunities, as well as find new sponsors.

The event is sponsored by the Greater Concord Area Task Force Against Racism & Intolerance, along with support from Lincoln Financial Group, Merrimack County Savings Bank, Unitarian Benevolent Association, Granite United Way, NH State Council on the Arts, Ascentria Care Alliance, Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce and JFogg Events and Promotions, Livingston’s company.

A number of factors impacted the difficult decision to postpone, including ”increased competition for declining donations, heavy competition with presidential primary events and community activity that includes Concord’s 250th anniversary celebration, and the commitment of organizers to produce an event worthy of its mission’s importance,” Livingston said.

“They are optimistic that the extended timeline will allow them to continue to raise funds and secure sponsors dedicated to providing ways to welcome new residents to the capitol city,” she added. “They are actively seeking partners at all levels of sponsorship, as well as underwriters and community supporters.”

The popular event celebrates the Concord community’s many different cultures and heritages with a festival of food, music and fun. The Festival’s participants represent dozens of the native countries from where Concord’s residents hail. Presenters celebrate their cultures through music, dance, food, crafts, storytelling and other interactive and engaging exhibits, games and experiences.

The event was founded 10 years ago by a group of volunteers committed to creating opportunities for Concord residents to welcome their newest neighbors - the refugees and immigrants making Concord their new home. Each year, the festival grew in numbers of countries represented, in wonderful food from those countries available for purchase, and in the music and dancing, for children and adults, to sounds and sights from all over the world.

The committee has also commissioned local Iraqi artist, Saad Hindal to create one of his of his famous Concord paintings to commemorate the festival’s 10th Anniversary. The painting will be reproduced as 12x18 prints and sold as a fundraiser for future festivals.

To learn more about the 10th Annual Concord Multicultural Festival, become a sponsor or volunteer, please visit concordNHmulticulturalfestival.org or contact Livingston at 603-568-5740 or Jessica@jfoggsocialinspirations.com.

Find the latest schedule and event updates at facebook.com/ConcordNHMulticulturalFestival.