The Humanitas Festival at Washington State University is about more than world arts and culture, Kate Hellmann said – it”s a celebration of student life as a whole.
“I”m not just working with a student from Saudi Arabia and I”m not just working with a student from Italy,” said Hellman, International Student Council co-adviser. “I”m working with students from 100 different countries.”
The weeklong celebration of the arts returns for its third year Monday and will feature a variety of cultural events hosted by the International Student”s Council, an organization of more than 2,000 students.
Gail Siegel, WSU director of Performing Arts, said the event came together after the Performing Arts Unit at WSU was formed in 2011. Siegel said after the group formed, they sought to host an event that would bridge the gap between the many cultures represented on the WSU campus.
“We wanted to create a signature event which is a celebration of world arts and we started building this festival” Siegel said.
Hellmann said after the WSU Performing Arts program fist came up with the idea for a culture festival, they asked the International Student”s Council if they would reschedule their International Education week to coincide with the first Humanitas Festival.
“The Humanitas Festival is so much about world art and culture, and international education week has a very similar message,” Hellmann said.
Craig Harris | Courtesy
Guy Mendilow will perform at the WSU Humanitas festival on Thursday.
Hellmann said the merging of the two events provided an opportunity for students and staff to work together to create a celebration of culture and student life on campus.
“The most special thing about working with the students is helping them get to a point where they don”t need me,” Hellmann said. “So sometimes that”s a matter of personal development, mentoring organization, professionalism and communication … I love knowing that what I”m doing is helping them grow as individuals.”
Hellmann said the best part of both the festival and International Education week, which are free to students, is the ability to experience and celebrate so many cultures.
Retired Ambassador Asif Chaudhry, vice president of WSU International Programs, will give the keynote speech at 5:15 p.m. Monday.
Hellmann said Chaudhry”s speech will center around global peace and other international topics.
Some of the events that will be held throughout the week include an international chocolate and cheese tasting, a Chinese potluck and a Spanish signing competition.
An additional event called Party in the Park is a mix of people from different cultures showing off their talents and various cuisines from around the world. It will be held in Reaney Park Sept. 26.
The festival will culminate with The Fly Rasta Tour, fronted by Grammy-winning reggae artist Ziggy Marley, son of Bob, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 26 in the Beasley Coliseum. Admission for the concert is $56.50 for the general public, $51.50 for WSU faculty and staff and $20 for WSU and UI students.
Siegel said the the best part of the festival is exposure to a variety of different cultures and ways of life.
“The best part of the event is that we”ve got all of these different cultures” performances coming to our community,” Siegel said.
More information for the event can be found at the WSU Performing Arts website.
Alex Brizee can be reached at [email protected]