The French Institute Alliance Francaise (FIAF) in Partnership With S.O.B.'S, PEN World Voices and The Maysles Institute Presents World Nomads: Haiti

The French Institute Alliance Francaise (FIAF) in Partnership With S.O.B.'S, PEN World Voices and The Maysles Institute Presents World Nomads: Haiti

An Annual Series Exploring Transculturalism

MUSIC - TALKS - CINEMA - ART

May 2009 at FIAF

NEW YORK, April 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The French Institute Alliance Francaise (FIAF), New York's premiere French cultural center, announced today the launch this May of the second edition of the World Nomads series celebrating transculturalism. Following the highly successful inaugural season, World Nomads will focus on Haiti this year, bringing some of the most exciting examples of Haitian culture and art to New York. Along with partners S.O.B.'S, PEN World Voices, and The Maysles Institute, FIAF will present a month-long celebration exploring the crossroads of culture and identity and providing a forum for dialogue and inspiration.

The small Caribbean island of Haiti is home to a rich and vibrant community of artists and writers, where influences and beliefs from all over the world have come together to create a cultural voice that is at once unique and universal. This May, World Nomads at FIAF will showcase outstanding Haitian music, cinema, literature, and visual arts that have come to inspire audiences and artists worldwide. Highlighting both acclaimed and up-and-coming artists, World Nomads will explore the diverse cultural landscape of Haiti through performances, talks, screenings, and an exclusive gallery exhibit.

"With the close connection of the French and Creole languages and 500,000 Haitian emigres who now call the New York area their home, a focus on Haiti this year is a natural sequel to World Nomads' first season," says Lili Chopra, FIAF Vice President of Cultural Affairs. "This year's ambitious program will bring together exceptional musicians, film-makers, writers and artists, to provide an exciting celebration of transculturalism and an engaging examination of Haitian culture and art."

Some highlights of the FIAF series will include the pioneering "voodoo-rock" band RAM, the writings of the multi-talented Franketienne, the revelatory filmmaking of directors Jonathan Demme and David Belle, and the works of some of Haiti's brightest contemporary artists, including Wesner LaForest and Odilon Pierre, to name a few. Encompassing all FIAF cultural programming for the month and stretching between the Maysles Institute in Harlem and S.O.B.'S and the Bubble Lounge downtown, the expansive World Nomads program is set to captivate all of the senses.

World Nomads: MUSIC

RAM
Friday, May 1 at 8pm
Venue: FIAF, Florence Gould Hall
Admission: $15 FIAF Members; $20 Non-Members
Note: In Creole, English and French

After-Party and Performance @ S.O.B.'S
Featuring RAM and CaRiMi
Doors open at 11pm, Shows at Midnight and 2am
Venue: S.O.B.'S
Admission: $25

Haitian Freedom Celebration

Featuring Barikad Crew, Haitian Fresh, and CaRiMi with special guest, Wyclef Jean

Monday, May 18 at 9pm*
Venue: S.O.B.'S
Admission: $25
*Doors open at 7pm. Tickets not available through FIAF

Haiti Optimiste: A global acoustic and visual evening
Featuring Emily King, Michou, and a surprise guest
Wednesday, May 27 at 8pm (doors open at 7pm)
Venue: The Bubble Lounge

Admission: $10 at the door including a Haitian cocktail - all proceeds to benefit HELP (Haitian Education and Leadership Program) and the Cine Institute, Haiti's only film school

World Nomads: TALKS

Reading and Writing Multilingual Haiti

With Dany Laferriere and Madison Smartt Bell, moderated by Kaiama L. Glover

Saturday, May 2 at 1pm
Venue: FIAF, Le Skyroom
Admission: Free and open to the public
Note: In English and French with interpretation

Franketienne: Haitian Identity
With Franketienne
Saturday, May 2 at 3pm
Venue: FIAF, Le Skyroom
Admission: Free and open to the public
Note: In French with English interpretation

Krik? Krak!
Saturday, May 2 at 5pm
Venue: FIAF, Le Skyroom
Admission: Free and open to the public
Note: In English, French, and Creole

See fiaf.org for a complete list of PEN World Voices events on May 2

World Nomads: CINEMA

CinemaTuesdays every Tuesday in May

Venue: FIAF
Admission: Free for Members; $7 for Students; $10 for Non-Members

The Agronomist (Jean Dominique l'Agronomiste)
The Man by the Shore (L'homme sur les quais)
Anita
Miss Body Plastik
Mrs. Little Bones (Madame Ti Zo)
Haiti Cherie
The Gospel of the Creole Pig (L'evangile du cochon Creole)
Eat, For This is My Body (Mange, ceci est mon corps)

World Nomads: ART

Jonathan Demme Collection: Inspiration of Haitian Art
Thursday, May 7th - Saturday, June 13th
Opening reception: Wednesday, May 6th - 6 - 8pm
Gallery hours: Tuesday - Friday: 11am - 6pm; Saturday: 11am - 5pm
Venue: FIAF Gallery
Admission: Free and open to the public

World Nomads: VENUE

The French Institute Alliance Francaise
FIAF Florence Gould Hall; 55 East 59th Street
FIAF Tinker Auditorium; 55 East 59th Street
FIAF Le Skyroom; 22 East 60th Street; 8th floor
FIAF Gallery; 22 East 60th Street; ground floor
All venues are located between Park and Madison Avenues.

Information: fiaf.org, 212 355 6160, World Nomads:
fiaf.org/events/spring2009/2009-05-world-nomads.shtml

Subway: 4, 5, 6, N, R and W at 59th Street; F at 63rd Street

Tickets: fiaf.org, 212 307 4100

Box office: 55 East 59th Street

Hours: Tuesday: 11am - 7pm, Wednesday - Friday: 12 noon - 7pm, Saturday: 12 noon - 4pm

Source: FIAF (French Institute Alliance Francaise)

CONTACT: Jennifer Kutsher of the FIAF (French Institute Alliance
Francaise), +1-646-388-6677, jkutsher@fiaf.org

Web Site: http://fiaf.org/

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