MANIFESTO FESTIVAL OF COMMUNITY AND CULTURE CELEBRATING OUR 5-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
11 days. 13 events. 100+ artists. One city.
September 15th-25th, 2011
Toronto. Canada.
Toronto, August, 23rd, 2011 - Celebrating our significant 5-year anniversary for this upcoming edition, the Manifesto Festival of Community & Culture returns this year with an 11-day long festival featuring an unprecedented series of events including the ArtReach Pitch Contest, FRESH (New Artist Showcase), the 106 & York Urban Arts Festival, Wombmanifesto, Origins (an Indigenous Hip Hop Showcase), Manifesto Movie Night, the Red Bull Music Academy Culture Clash, a Conference on Community & Career, a Street Dance Tribute and many more.
In Manifesto tradition, the festival will culminate on Sep 25 with a massive FREE outdoor concert at Yonge-Dundas Square headlined by Rakim & Kid Capri, 9th Wonder & Phonte, Blu & Exile, Andreena Mill, Zaki Ibrahim, Michie Mee and more. The festival will also include the participation of legendary hip hop forefather Afrika Bambaataa and the Zulu Nation, Mr. Wiggles, the Inside Out Project, and Indigo.
Manifesto will once again transform the city for 11 days into a hotbed of youth culture igniting 13 venues with over 100 artists offering something for everyone. With constant new additions to the festival, Manifesto returns bigger and more exciting than ever!
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
ARTREACH PITCH CONTEST
As part of this exciting event, ArtReach Toronto and Manifesto, in partnership with Toronto Cultural Services and Grassroots Youth Collaborative, will hold a live pitch contest to award prizes to young artists between 16 and 24 years of age, to support them in pursuing their careers and aspirations. Finalists will be chosen to participate in the live pitch contest in front of a panel of judges, and will be required to make a creative, inspiring and convincing, pitch or performance.
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FRESH (New Artist Showcase) presented by Slaight Music In partnership with Lyrics To Go and Yume, Manifesto's FRESH concert is a new event added to this year's festival. The showcase is an opportunity to witness some of the most promising emerging talents from across the GTA and beyond. The showcase will also provide an opportunity for these artists to connect with new fans and forge industry contacts.
Highlights: 88 Days of Fortune, Luu Breeze, Jeff Spec, Lord Quest + more.
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106 & YORK
Highclass, N.I.S.E., Just BGRAPHIC and Manifesto present: 106 & York, a multi-disciplinary urban arts festival that will showcase some of Toronto's finest young talent in music, fashion, dance, spoken word, and more. The event will include performances by emerging and headlining artists. The festival kicks off with Artist Development Workshops on September 3rd and a photo exhibition on September 13th at York Woods Art Hub where we will be displaying photos of previous years' highlights.
Highlights: Trish, Shi Wisdom, The Violinist, Church Chizzle, Chaotic Dance Crew + more.
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WOMBMANIFESTO: THE REBIRTH
Where the rapper meets the actor, the painter meets the poet and the dancer meets the singer. For the first time in Manifesto his/story, women and trans artists will be coming together for a day-long celebration in honour of us all. The day will kick off with a conference full of panels and workshops, exploring everything from motherhood to body politics to the re-definition of feminism. Later in th evening, an all-star cast of Canadian women and trans artists artists will be taking centre stage and defining a new vision for Hip Hop culture. Alongside live these performances, Wombmanifesto will also be celebrating and paying tribute to some of the female pioneers of the game who helped to build the foundation for Canadian Hip Hop. Wombmanifesto: The Rebirth, was inspired by the vision and beauty of the event Omega Vibrations at Manifesto Jamaica 2010. Make sure you are there on September 18th to witness Toronto Hip Hop her/story.
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CONNECTED (Meet & Greet)
CONNECTED is another new event added to Manifesto Festival 2011, a free entry, invite only, networking event where all artists, staff, and volunteers involved in Manifesto can mingle with label folks, managers, PR companies, promoters, sponsors, event partners, and other industry types.
Highlights: Perfeck Strangers, Shaun Boothe, Kabaka Pyramid, Big Jacks.
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ORIGINS: THE FIREKEEPERS
Indigenous hip hop artists from across Ontario will throw down at The Great Hall, presented in collaboration with World Famous Music and the Ontario Arts Council.
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Highlights: Plex, Kinnie Starr, 2OOLMAN & SESE, Q-Rock + more.
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MANIFESTO MOVIE NIGHT
A night of groundbreaking & introspective documentaries and short films focusing on issues that resonate not only internationally, but domestically as well. Manifesto Movie Night will bring forth a blend of films that will engage and challenge our audience's ideologies & perspectives while also shining light on some of the people and places that have had an instrumental impact on our Toronto arts and culture scene.
Highlights: Black August (documentary). View Trailer
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BOOT CAMP CLIK
The legendary NYC crew Boot Camp Clik, which has contributed heavily to NYC's hip hop scene, makes a return to Toronto for Manifesto Festival 2011. The Duck Down Music Inc. roster of Buckshot & DJ Evil Dee of Black Moon, Smif N Wessun, and Sean P will bless Toronto's audience with a night of classics, alongside Toronto-based Promise, Monolith (a rare reunion performance), and Richie Sosa. A co-presentation of Union Events and Sound Academy.
Highlights: Boot Camp Clik, Promise, Monolith, Richie Sosa.
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RED BULL MUSIC ACADEMY WORLD TOUR - CULTURE CLASH presented by Manifesto
Four soundsystems. Four styles. One champion. A 4-stage DJ soundclash at Echo Beach that includes Afrika Bambaataa & Zulu Nation, Toronto All-Stars, LuckyMe Crew, and Mad Decent Crew.
Highlights: Afrika Bambaataa & Zulu Nation, LuckyMe Crew, Mad Decent Crew, Toronto All-Stars, hosted by Kardinal Offishall.
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MOVEMENT: FLOOR AWARDS & SOLID GROUND
An evening celebrating street dance culture in Toronto through showcase performances, battles, open ciphers, and an awards ceremony. The event will take place in two rooms - one devoted to bboying/bgirling and the other to all styles of street dance. Special guest Mr. Wiggles will be performing in both rooms throughout the night. Also, in partnership with SCION, we are presenting 15 SCION CAR HOODS painted by Toronto artists which will be auctioned off at this event.
Highlights: Mr. Wiggles, Toronto vs. Montreal (b-boys & b-girls), Moonrunners, DJ Dopey, Dirty Dale + more.
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CAREER & COMMUNITY: CONFERENCE
The conference includes a schedule of keynote speakers, and panel discussions around the theme of Community and Career in hip hop culture and concludes the evening with the Forgiveness Project where artists will give an intimate account of their trials and tribulations throughout their lives. The panel will include acclaimed industry professionals such as Ian Andre Espinet (nightlife expert), Bryan Espiritu (designer) and Katrina Lopes (Shawn Desman manager).
Highlights: Dream Hampton (keynote), One Nation (national hip hop festival network), North American blog panel, Forgiveness Project + more.
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ALL ART EVERYTHING
Always a festival favourite, our 5th Annual Art Exhibition brings together our incredible Canadian artists this year for a celebration of ALL. ART. EVERYTHING. We decided to keep it fresh with our homegrown talents including Indigo from Vancouver, Toronto natives such as Totem Resolve, EGR, Bryan Espiritu of the TheLegendsLeague and much much more. We also have over 25 local photographers telling their stories in one the largest activations of a global arts initiative The Inside Out Project, featured through the streets of the T.DOT!
Highlights: Indigo, Inside Out Project, Bryan Espiritu, Mediah, Suritah Teresa Wignall + more.
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LIVE AT THE SQUARE
Manifesto's "Live At The Square" includes main-stage performances, a bboy/bgirl open dance floor, graffiti wall and open canvas artwork, the Freshest Goods Market, workshops, and more. Sunday's all day outdoor block party transforms Yonge-Dundas Square into Torontoís multidisciplinary urban arts playground ñ backed by a free concert showcasing some of Canadaís musical legends and emerging talent, alongside a handful of international guests.
Highlights: Rakim & Kid Capri, Blu & Exile, 9th Wonder & Phonte, Zaki Ibrahim, Andreena Mill, Michie Mee, Freedom Writers + much more. ALL FREE!
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The Festival unites top Canadian and international artists showcasing passion, diversity and raw talent, inspiring community through creativity and culture. Energizing, supporting and celebrating Toronto's vibrant and diverse music and arts community, Manifesto has become a catalyst for creative evolution and social change.
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"Toronto! Stand Up. It is time, once again, to shine a bright light on and make some big noise for Toronto and its remarkable young artists and organizers who undoubtedly make it one of North America's cultural capitals.
Manifesto season is upon us and we are thrilled to share with the people the most impressive and inclusive series of events we have ever been able to. It's been 5 years since the first ever meeting of minds town hall that birthed Manifesto, and to see all those ideas harnessed into a collective vision and come to life in year 5 is truly humbling. Proud is an understatement for how I feel about the entire team who has put this festival together over the years and the countless community members who have been a part of, and inspired, it. With 13 events over 11 days, we have carefully crafted a festival that we feel has something for everyone and that can open people up to new ways of thinking and connecting to themselves, their community and the universe.
There are all sorts of festival highlights, but keep in mind some underlying themes that are running throughout our programming: People Power, Public, and Generations; you will see these echoed through everything we have announced and some surprises throughout the 11 days. As one of our special guests 9th Wonder noted last time he was at Manifesto 'Toronto is the hip-hop capital of the world.' For those of us who live here, we know this...Toronto breathes a unique creative energy. We ask everyone who participates with the festival this year to inhale and exhale deeply; give thanks for what we have and connect to the vibration being released; it's connected to a global pulse and rhythm that is connected to and fuelled by generations past. We are all part of this. And please remember what one of our special guests for Manifesto 2011 Rakim teaches us...'don't sweat the technique'. 1Love."
- Che Kothari, Executive Director
MANIFESTO EVENT LISTINGS:
ArtReach Pitch Contest at 918 Bathurst - Thursday, September 15th
FRESH (New Artist Showcase) at Lula Lounge - Friday, September 16th
4th Annual 106 & York - Saturday, September 17th
Wombmanifesto at Revival - Sunday, September 18th
Connected (Meet & Greet) - Monday, September 19th
Origins (Indigenous Hip Hop Showcase) at The Great Hall - Tuesday, September 20th
Manifesto Movie Night at TIFF Bell Lightbox - Wednesday, September 21st
Boot Camp Clik at Sound Academy - Wednesday, September 21st
Red Bull Culture Clash hosted by Kardinal Offishall at Echo Beach - Thursday, September 22nd
The Movement: Floor Awards & Solid Ground at 99 Sudbury - Friday, September 23rd
ALL ART EVERYTHING (Art Show) at AGO Gallery School - Saturday, September 24th
Community & Career Conference at AGO Jackman Hall - Saturday, September 24th
Live at the Square at Yonge-Dundas Square - Sunday, September 25th (Noon-11:00PM)
[ FOR FULL PROGRAM, STAY TUNED... ]
About Manifesto
Founded in 2007, Manifesto is a non-profit organization that works to unite, energize and celebrate Toronto's diverse arts communities and find innovative ways of working together towards common goals through year round programming and activities. Growing to be the largest and most unique festival of its kind in just five short years, the critically acclaimed Manifesto Festival of Community & Culture is the annual culmination of Manifesto's work, bringing together hundreds of artists & performers, and thousands of spectators over eleven days to showcase our city's talented arts community and strengthen its foundations by building a collective sense of pride and possibility. The festival also takes place in Jamaica and Barbados.
The 5th Annual Manifesto Festival, taking place September 15th-25th in Toronto, Canada, is supported by Canadian Heritage, the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Culture, Laidlaw Foundation, Celebrate Ontario, FACTOR, Red Bull, Slaight Music, TD Canada Trust, Scion, New Era as well as a large network of grassroots arts organizations, arts institutions, media outlets and other community partners.
VIMEO: themanifesto
TWITTER: @MANIFESTO_FEST #Manifesto5YR
FACEBOOK: Manifesto Festival
MEDIA CONTACT INFORMATION
For interview requests, accreditation, and hi-res photos, please contact:
Morgan Steiker
Prize Fighter Public Relations
(Office) 514 564 2440
(Cell) 514 746 6939
morgan@prizefighterpr.com
For more info visit: http://themanifesto.ca
