Arctic Fest 2022 combines arts, science, Indigenous perspectives

A new type of festival that combines the arts, sciences, and Indigenous cultural and knowledge systems to help explain and respond to climate change in the North will open later this month in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Arctic Fest 2022 is a collaboration between the Fairbanks Concert Association, Northern Alaska Environmental Center and University of Alaska Fairbanks. The festival is loosely structured around three themes: the arts, sciences, and innovation and green entrepreneurialism. Interwoven throughout is an emphasis on Indigenous perspectives and voices.

Major events include:

Arctic Fest panel: Starting the conversation
Thursday, Sept. 1, 7:30 p.m., Regents’ Great Hall, UAF
Michael Castellini, a UAF professor emeritus, will lead a pre-festival discussion around some of Arctic Fest’s themes. Other participants include ecologist Terry Chapin, green entrepreneur Doug Johnson; and Mary Beth Leigh, Arctic Fest co-organizer and UAF professor.

Arctic Fest opening night featuring Pamyua
Friday, Sept. 2, 7:30 p.m., Hering Auditorium
The Alaska-based Inuit soul group Pamyua will headline the concert, preceded by performances by the Celaire Singers, North Star Ballet, Pavva Iñupiaq Dancers, and Iñupiaq rapper AKU-MATU. The concert also functions as the 75th season opener for the Fairbanks Concert Association. Tickets are available at fairbanksconcert.org or by calling 907-474-8081.

Green Marketplace
Friday and Saturday, Sept. 2-3, noon-6 p.m., Alaska Centennial Center for the Performing Arts exhibit hall
The Green Marketplace will feature Alaska artisan vendors, Alaskan-owned businesses promoting and selling products focused on sustainability, Indigenous artists and makers, and educational and informational tables. The Green Marketplace is presented by the Northern Alaska Environmental Center.

Innovation Hub
Friday and Saturday, Sept. 2-3, 1-5 p.m., Alaska Centennial Center for the Performing Arts exhibit hall
The Innovation Hub presentation series will highlight the innovation and ingenuity of Alaskans addressing the impacts of a changing environment. The Innovation Hub is presented by the Northern Alaska Environmental Center and sponsored by College Rotary.

“In a Time of Change: Boreal Forest Stories”
Alaska Centennial Center for the Performing Arts
Sept. 2, 4-6 p.m., exhibit and opening reception
Sept. 3, 1-2:15 p.m., literary reading
Sept. 3, 7:30 p.m., live performance
The UAF arts-humanities-science integration program, “In a Time of Change,” will premiere its newest project, “Boreal Forest Stories,” at Arctic Fest. ITOC draws together an interdisciplinary suite of artists, writers, educators and scientists whose original creative works will appear in a multimedia gallery exhibit, literary reading, and live performance.

In addition to events created specifically for Arctic Fest, a range of community organizations adapted or enhanced their existing programs to embrace Arctic Fest’s themes. Most events and activities are free or available for a nominal fee; some require advance registration.

More information about Arctic Fest is available at arcticfest.org.

Download a high-resolution image of the Arctic Fest logo.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Anne Biberman, anne@fairbanksconcert.org, 907-687-6493

Elisabeth Balster Dabney, dabney@northern.org, 907-687-4890

Mary Beth Leigh, mbleigh@alaska.edu, 907-687-8671

Tori Tragis, lead Arctic Fest communications manager and FCA communications manager, pr@fairbanksconcert.org, 907-888-6922

Marmian Grimes, UAF public information officer, mlgrimes@alaska.edu, 907-474-7902