[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 23, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H7037-H7038]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING AND CELEBRATING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL BLACK 
                             ARTS FESTIVAL

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1286) recognizing and celebrating the 
20th anniversary of the National Black Arts Festival.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1286

       Whereas the National Black Arts Festival (NBAF) is a 
     nonprofit cultural institution based in Atlanta, Georgia, 
     that celebrates the artistic contributions of people of 
     African descent and their impact on world cultures;
       Whereas the mission of the NBAF is to engage, cultivate, 
     and educate diverse audiences about the arts and cultures of 
     the African Diaspora and provide opportunities for artistic 
     and creative expression;
       Whereas the NBAF was founded in 1987 after a study 
     commissioned by the Fulton County Arts Council found an unmet 
     need for a festival celebrating and advancing the work of 
     black artists;
       Whereas the study provided compelling reasons why the 
     Atlanta community was the right place for such a festival, 
     which led local government and civic leaders to help 
     establish the NBAF and present the first summer festival in 
     1988;
       Whereas, in July 1988, the 10-day event served as the 
     country's first-ever summer festival featuring hundreds of 
     artists of African descent, where 500,000 attendees took part 
     in a triumphant celebration of African art, music, and 
     culture;
       Whereas, over the last 20 years, the NBAF has connected 
     with people of all ages and races and celebrated diversity 
     while striking a common chord that resonated with all 
     Americans like no other festival or presenting arts 
     organization;
       Whereas the organization has evolved into a year-round 
     cultural institution dedicated to serving artists, audiences, 
     teachers, and students by providing opportunities for 
     artistic and creative expression and sponsoring educational 
     and humanities programs to deepen historical and cultural 
     understanding;
       Whereas the NBAF has a global perspective, celebrating the 
     contributions of people of African descent and their impact 
     on world cultures, as well as recognizing the great diversity 
     of the African diaspora throughout the world;
       Whereas festival programming is carefully chosen to ensure 
     that ``three generations are at the table'', recognizing the 
     need to appeal to a broad range of ages;
       Whereas the mission of the NBAF has given the organization 
     a clear focus and understanding of its niche, which has 
     allowed the NBAF to succeed locally and nationally;
       Whereas dedicated volunteers, consistently high quality 
     work, and continued support from the funding community has 
     enabled the NBAF to stand above its peers;
       Whereas the NBAF adds a unique and necessary dimension to 
     Atlanta's cultural landscape as one of the city's leading art 
     institutions;
       Whereas the NBAF has touched more than 5,000,000 people 
     through music, dance, theater, film, visual arts, literary 
     arts, and family events over the past 2 decades;
       Whereas the NBAF has become the premier festival of its 
     kind in the United States; and
       Whereas the 20th anniversary of the first summer festival 
     provides an occasion to honor the importance of the NBAF in 
     its cultural fabric of greater Atlanta and all of America: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the important role that arts and arts 
     education plays in the lives of millions of Americans;
       (2) recognizes the continuing contributions and influence 
     of African-American art work to America's cultural life;
       (3) urges all citizens to support efforts to strengthen 
     artistic training and appreciation in schools; and
       (4) recognizes the 20th anniversary of the National Black 
     Arts Festival.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days 
during which Members may revise and extend their remarks and insert 
extraneous material on H. Res. 1286 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
might consume.
  I rise today in support of H. Res. 1286, which recognizes the 
contributions of African American artwork to the United States. African 
Americans use dance, music, visual arts, theater and variations of 
these art forms to express their cultural heritage and personal 
identity. The annual National Black Arts Festival based in Atlanta, 
Georgia, celebrates the artistic contributions of people of African 
descent to the rest of the world.
  After a study in 1987 commissioned by the Fulton County Arts Council, 
the local agency unveiled a need to commemorate the artistic 
accomplishments of the African diaspora. In 1988, the first National 
Black Arts Festival took place in Atlanta, Georgia.
  Today the festival lasts 10 days and includes major events like the 
Pan African Film Festival, which is the Nation's largest event 
dedicated to showing black films. It will also include a dance tribute 
to Judith Jamison, Oprah Winfrey's presentation of ``The Color 
Purple,'' creative conversations with Cornell West and Alice Walker and 
a jubilant musical evening with Gladys Knight. The festival is full of 
performances, speaker series, visual arts and a number of student and 
family programs.
  NBAF has evolved into a year-round cultural institution dedicated to 
serving artists, audiences, teachers and students by providing 
opportunities for artistic and creative expression and sponsoring an 
educational and humanities program. Every year there is a summer 
institute, an African American history elementary quiz bowl, and a 
children's education village for the youth to learn about African 
American history.
  Black artists have influenced history, education and culture, and 
African Americans continue to make instrumental contributions to all 
facets of art. Within their organization, NBAF organizes pieces of 
black art to educate and entertain fans of African American talent. 
NBAF helps educate the Nation about components of black culture by 
hosting such an extensive program in Atlanta. We therefore recognize 
the contribution of the organization as well as acknowledge the number 
of black artists affecting our Nation.
  Once again I express my support for the National Black Arts Festival 
and urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of House Resolution 1286, recognizing and 
celebrating the 20th anniversary of the National Black Arts Festival.
  The National Black Arts Festival was founded in 1987 after the Fulton 
County Arts Council commissioned a study to explore the feasibility of 
creating a festival dedicated to celebrating and advancing the work of 
artists of African descent. The study provided compelling reasons why 
the Atlanta community was the right place for such a festival, and with 
Fulton County government as the major sponsor, joined by additional 
corporate and foundation sponsors, the Festival's first biannual summer 
festival was held in 1988.
  The 10-day event served as the country's first-ever summer festival 
featuring hundreds of artists of African descent. Half a million 
attendees took part in a triumphant celebration of African art, music 
and culture.
  Over the last 20 years, artist and attendees alike have come to 
expect emerging and renowned artists to grace the stages and exhibit 
spaces of the city; collectors look eagerly to the artists' market for 
the next opportunity to buy from some of the best artists in

[[Page H7038]]

the country; film fans flock to the screenings of known and unknown 
work; and concert halls are filled with the voices and instruments of 
those who are considered to be the best in jazz, gospel, R&B and 
everything in between.
  As the festival established itself as one of the most important 
festivals in the world presenting the art and culture of the African 
diaspora, it seized the opportunity to expand the year-round 
educational and humanities programming in addition to hosting the 
festival every year.
  The NBAF connects with people of all ages and races and celebrates 
diversity, while striking a common chord that resonates with all 
Americans like no other festival or arts organization. The festival is 
a cultural institution dedicated to serving artists, audiences, 
teachers and students by providing opportunities for artistic and 
creative expression and sponsoring educational and humanities programs 
to deepen historical and cultural understanding of African and African 
American culture.
  To date, the NBAF has touched over 5 million people and is one of the 
premier festivals in the world. Today we honor it for its 20 years of 
dedicated service to the arts and education in the greater Atlantic 
area as well as to the country.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the 
Education and Labor Committee and the Majority Leader and his staff for 
their help in bringing this bill to the floor.
  Today I rise to honor and celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 
National Black Arts Festival. This wonderful festival is taking place 
right now in my district--the 5th Congressional District of Georgia.
  Each year, Atlanta welcomes thousands of visitors, artists, and 
performers who come from across the country and all over the World to 
take part in the National Black Arts Festival.
  The two week festival is an incredible showcase of the arts and 
cultures of the African Diaspora.
  The National Black Arts Festival has become a leader in arts-
education in Atlanta, and across the country organizing special art 
events for students, including the African American History Quiz Bowl, 
professional development courses for teachers, and international trips 
to experience foreign art first hand.
  The year-long education programs of the National Black Arts Festival 
help open the eyes of our young people to sculpture, and painting, to 
music and writing. It opens windows to the world.
  We must reach more students, and more teachers, from around the 
country and around the world.
  I am proud of what the National Black Arts Festival has accomplished 
over the last 20 years. The sky is the limit for this wonderful 
organization, led by its talented Executive Producer Stephanie Hughley.
  I ask my colleagues to join me today to celebrate the National Black 
Arts Festival, and the rich artistic history and diversity of the 
African Diaspora throughout the world.
  I am so proud to have the National Black Arts Festival in my district 
and I look forward to its continued success.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1286.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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