Today begins the one-year countdown to The Next Fifty, six months of events and activities planned in 2012 at Seattle Center that celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, the legacy it left to the region, and the opportunities ahead during the next fifty years. Many elements of the celebration are already in place, and many more will take shape during the coming year.
Like the 1962 World's Fair, the 50th anniversary focuses on the future. The Next Fifty draws attention to eight focus areas highlighting the Pacific Northwest's leadership and innovation over the past half-century, as it compels participants to help create a vision for our future. Exhibitions, speaking forums, live entertainment, fun family activities, interactive experiences, competitions and community discussions will engage local and global audiences to debate our priorities, embrace our challenges and pursue possibilities for the region's role in the world.
The key focus areas include:
· Arts, Culture and Design, Apr. 21 - Oct. 21, 2012
· History, Apr. 21 - Oct. 21, 2012
· Sustainable Futures, Apr. 21 - May, 2012
· Science and Technology, June 2012
· Global Health, July 2012
· Learning, Aug. 2012
· Commerce and the Innovation Economy, Sept. 2012
· Civic Action, Oct. 2012
"Seattle Center Foundation, which is leading the anniversary planning effort, has worked tirelessly to put together a celebration that truly recognizes the extraordinary contributions of our region over the past half-century and the creativity and imagination that will determine our global impact over the next 50 years. The celebration pays tribute to the importance of Seattle Center as a gathering place for celebration, contemplation and the sharing of dynamic ideas and cultures," stated Seattle Center Director Robert Nellams.
Anniversary planners are partnering with a variety of individuals and associations to create this inspiring celebration, enlisting so far 209 individual ambassadors and 110 participant organizations, including American Institute of Architects Seattle, Central District Forum for Arts & Ideas, Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI), Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau, Seattle Global Health Nexus, Seattle Mariners and a broad range of arts, culture, sports, civic and research entities. Nineteen planning committees are currently in place, and volunteers have already donated over 4,000 hours collectively to preparing for the celebration. Sponsorships and generous in-kind donations also support The Next Fifty.
"The World's Fair organizers welcomed the world to Seattle and left the extraordinary legacy of Seattle Center. I wonder if they could have envisioned what a special gathering place it has become for the region. Through ongoing partnerships and valued commitment, Seattle Center continues to thrive as an entertainment hub and treasured community space in the heart of the Pacific Northwest. My hope is that the 50th anniversary celebration serves as a launching pad to the Center's future and inspires meaningful conversation about what our next 50 years will look like," stated Seattle Center Foundation Executive Director Tracy Robinson.
"My father held fast to his vision that a jewel-box of a world's fair would elevate this relatively unknown town to the world stage. His indomitable spirit helped drive the astonishing success of the Fair and galvanized the whole community to achieve much more than it thought attainable. That can-do attitude still accounts for so much of the region's accomplishments over the past 50 years - in the arts, innovation, environmental stewardship and cultural development. Dad would be raising a toast to The Next Fifty with great pride" stated Jane Carlson Williams, daughter of World's Fair Commission Chairman Edward (Eddie) Carlson.
Seattle Center Foundation will make announcements of The Next Fifty programs and events over the next several months on the new website www.TheNextFifty.org. 2011 events and a sneak preview of 2012 program highlights are listed below. For more information on The Next Fifty planning, public outreach and partnership development as well as lists of ambassadors, participating organizations and ways to support the anniversary celebration, visit www.TheNextFifty.org or call 206.684.7200.
Events on April 21, 2011
· Seattle Center Foundation has partnered with Living Social to offer a special World's Fair Anniversary Package Deal of the Day on April 21st. For only $60, five hundred lucky people will receive a set of collectible 50th anniversary glasses, a $25 voucher at Sky City Restaurant at the Space Needle, four Exhibit Passes to Pacific Science Center and four Round Trip Seattle Center Monorail tickets.
· The 5 Point Café near Seattle Center will offer a set of Next Fifty commemorative glasses for $17 alone or $22 with a special drink made from local liquors. More information is available at www.the5pointcafe.com.
· As part of the countdown, Seattle Center Foundation is also continuing the monthly Buzz activities on the 21st of every month through Oct. 21, 2011. These activities are a fun way to engage in the celebration as we approach the 2012 celebration.
· The arches at the Pacific Science Center will be lit in red, gold and green to celebrate the countdown to the 50th anniversary of the Seattle World's Fair.
· The Space Needle will fly The Next Fifty flag on April 21 to mark the one-year countdown.
The Next Fifty 2011 - ways to get involved
A number of early projects lead up to The Next Fifty. While the majority of events during this celebration will take place from Apr. 21 to Oct. 21, 2012, the public is invited to be part of it this year as well.
Share Your Stories, ongoingThe Next Fifty 2012 sneak Preview
Planning continues on activities associated with each of the key focus areas. In addition, competitions, exhibits and opportunities for fun and learning will fill Seattle Center grounds over the six months of celebration.
Seattle World's Fair DocumentaryHistory Exhibit
The Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI), Seattle Center Foundation and HistoryLink.org are working together to create an onsite exhibit featuring artifacts and memorabilia from the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, and they will present a travelling exhibit on the history of all world's fairs.
Seattle Opera Simulcast in KeyArena
Seattle Opera will simulcast the opening night of Madama Butterfly, the beloved opera by Giacomo Puccini, at KeyArena in May 2012. This public viewing will offer the magic of a full opera performance to thousands of additional patrons.
SIFF Film Series
Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF), in partnership with The Next Fifty, will be hosting a series of films and forum discussions throughout the six months of the celebration. The series will highlight The Next Fifty focus areas. Keep an eye out for announcements on ways young people can explore The Next Fifty through the medium of film.
Seattle Science Festival
As part of the 50th anniversary of the Seattle World's Fair, Pacific Science Center and collaborators from throughout the region are joining forces to present the first-ever Seattle Science Festival in June, 2012. The month-long series of events includes several days of science and technology-related activities and programs offered at venues around Seattle, a distinguished lecture series featuring luminaries from the science world, and a large-scale Science Expo at Seattle Center, featuring hands-on exhibits, experiments, demonstrations, games, and live performances to engage, educate and entertain audiences of all ages.
Festal Fabric of American Project (FFAP)
FFAP:E=mc2 engages contemporary people in a contemporary world and expresses their passion, pride and point of view on ethnicity and heritage in the 21st Century. People participate by choosing a culture and answering a simple question, submitting a response by coming up with an image and text or a video and sharing the results. Funded by the Lila Wallace Foundation and Washington State Arts Commission.
King Tut: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs
Step into one of history's most treasured stories in Tutankhamen: The Golden King and The Great Pharaohs, on exhibition at Pacific Science Center, May 24, 2012-January 6, 2013. With more than twice the number of artifacts than the original Tut exhibit that toured in the 1970s, the exhibit features more than 100 objects from King Tut's tomb as well as artifacts from ancient sites representing some of the most important rulers throughout 2,000 years of ancient Egyptian history. http://www.pacsci.org/kingtut/
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