New Haven 'Arts for Labor Weekend' To Include Vax Initiative

NEW HAVEN, CT — The International Festival of Arts & Ideas announced it will shift its “Arts for Labor” programming to focus on encouraging public safety with “Vaccination and Vibes” weekend.

The 2-day event will feature live performances of music, dance, poetry, storytelling, and more from Connecticut-based artists.

The festival will celebrate frontline workers and encourage audiences to minimize the spread of the coronavirus by getting vaccinated for FREE at a mobile clinic on the Green, in partnership with the City of New Haven.

"The New Haven Symphony stands in full support of community protection through vaccination and has donated tickets to the effort as incentive," organizers said in a news release.

The Saturday, Sept. 4 concert program featuring the NHSO and guest artists Brian Stokes Mitchell and Harolyn Blackwell is postponed and will be performed during the June 2022 International Festival of Arts and Ideas.

"We look forward to supporting that experience, complete with guest soloists Brian Stokes Mitchell and Harolyn Blackwell, in the summer of 2022," Arts & Ideas Executive Director Shelley Quiala said.

On Saturday, Connecticut artists Dawn Tallman, the Tines, and DJ Fire will perform instead.

“Following guidance from local health officials and our community health partners, the Symphony has made the very difficult decision to postpone our Sept. 4 concert. We anticipated extremely large crowds turning out for our return as a full orchestra, as well as for our headline artists Brian Stokes Mitchell and Harolyn Blackwell. Thankfully, our musicians, our guest artists, and our wonderful partners at the Festival have all graciously agreed to reschedule this concert for the June 2022 International Festival of Arts & Ideas.”

Saturday, Sept. 4 at 5 p.m.
Vaccinations and vibes will be in abundant supply as DJ Fire, New Haven’s Indie Rock sensation The Tines, and Gospel legend Dawn Tallman kick off the weekend.
Sunday, September 5 at 4 PM

Sunday will feature artists from near and far hosted by New Haven’s entrepreneur-cum-salsera Alisa Bowens-Mercado and Omaha-based spoken word poet WithLove,Felicia. The event lineup includes Connecticut poets Darlene Kascak and AnUrbanNerd (Josh Brown) and dance groups Team Leggoo and Mulan Art School Dance Ensemble. Musical performances include genre-bending singer Durand Bernarr, R&B group the Kennedy Administration, and Ecuadorian accordionist, pianist, and composer Paco Godoy y su Gran Orquestra Internacional.

Vaccination Clinic
On both days, a mobile vaccination clinic in partnership with the New Haven Health Department will be onsite to administer FREE vaccinations (with incentives, including donated tickets from the Symphony in support of vaccination efforts) and answer questions.
Maritza Bond, Director of Public Health for the City of New Haven says, “We are pleased to have Arts & Ideas host a vaccine clinic for their upcoming event. They are true examples of community leaders who are contributing to our efforts towards protecting the community.”

RSVP Information
In order to prepare and better encourage audience safety and experience, Arts & Ideas is asking prospective attendees to RSVP via its website (artidea.org/LaborDay) or its Box Office at (203) 498-3771.

Safety Precautions
Audience members will be asked to mask-up and will be directed to socially distanced “pods” on the Green. For a full list of COVID-19 policies and an updated concert line-up please visit ArtIdea.org/LaborDay.

“We are proud to celebrate New Haven and Connecticut’s tremendous wealth of artistic talent with two days of performances across genres. We're also honoring frontline workers by encouraging audiences to protect our community the best way we can: to get vaxxed for FREE at a mobile clinic on the Green, in partnership with the City of New Haven. This is how we’ll ensure the future of artistic performances and create safe gatherings that support artists and audiences.”