Rose Royce And Midnight Star Headline Festival Sundiata

Transform your cultural awareness at Seattle Center Festál: Festival Sundiata presents Black Arts Fest, Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., and Sunday, 12 p.m.-6 p.m., June 16-17, at Seattle Center Armory, Fisher Pavilion Rooftop and Mural Amphitheatre. The Festival provides a stage to share African American heritage and inspiration with the broader community through live music, dance, visual arts, ethnic items for sale, workshops, demonstrations and hands-on learning for kids and adults.

Bands, Rose Royce, best known for hit singles such as "Car Wash" and "Love Don't Live Here Anymore," and Midnight Star headline the live entertainment for the weekend with performances on the Mural Amphitheater Stage.

A new art display called "The Ultimate Art Experience" on the Fisher Roof features artwork, children's activities including African Doll making, robot building with Seattle Public Library and a small stage for spoken word, acoustical acts and small band performances. Also on display, The Traveling American Museum: The Unspoken Truth highlights an assortment of artifacts that symbolizes the African experience in the Americas and Europe.

Launched in 1981 to gather African Americans for a heritage celebration, the festival provides a venue for the community to participate in a shared culture - and to share the culture with all ethnicities who join in the packed weekend of activities and entertainment.

In addition, a variety of food offerings will be available at Taste of Sundiata, along with a special candy making class lead by Chef Michael Poole. Twelve guests will be selected to participate in the candy making class, while all are welcome to observe.

Seattle Center Festál brings to light the culturally rich communities who shape the character of our region. Although the series began in 1997, its origins stretch back to when ethnic communities were planting their roots here. For many of them, Seattle Center served as a central place, where they could invite the public to join in their unique cultural expression. Some festivals were formed in response to wars or ethnic displacement and others to unite their communities, educate the public and dispel stereotypes. Now at 21 years, Festál producers are seeking to sustain their festivals with compelling programming that appeals to multiple generations.

Seattle Center Festál: Festival Sundiata presents Black Arts Fest is a public program presented by Seattle Center in partnership with Sundiata African American Cultural Association. Admission is free-of-charge. For more information on this festival, visit http://www.festivalsundiata.org, and to learn more about this collection of ethnic cultural events and other Seattle Center public programming, visit www.seattlecenter.com or call 206-684-7200.

About Seattle Center Festál

This illuminating series of 23 ethnic cultural festivals on weekends throughout the year seeks to connect people in ways that build understanding, dispel stereotypes and generate pride among the generations who participate in these shared experiences. Seattle Center Festál is produced with the generous support of KUOW 94.9 Public Radio, Coca-Cola, Alaska Airlines, T-Mobile, 4Culture. the City of Seattle and Seattle Center Foundation.

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