Research Catalog

Title

United States Committee for the First World Festival of Negro Arts Press agent's files, 1964-1966.

Author

United States Committee for the First World Festival of Negro Arts

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Senghor, Léopold Sédar, 1906-2001
• Greaves, William

Donor/Sponsor

Schomburg NEH Automated Access to Special Collections Project.

Subject

• United States Committee for the First World Festival of Negro Arts
• World Festival of Negro Arts
• Festivals > Senegal > Dakar
• Festivals > Africa
• Art festivals > Africa
• Black people in the performing arts
• African American arts
• African American artists
• African Americans in the performing arts
• Performing arts festivals > Africa

Source (note)

• Museum of the City of New York

Biography (note)

• The First World Festival of Negro Arts took place April 1-24, 1966 in Dakar, Senegal and demonstrated the cultural ties between African nations and the rest of the world, and the impact of black culture upon world culture. The festival involved the participation of forty-five African, European, West Indian, and North and South American countries. Conceived by Senegalese President Leopold Sedar Senghor, the festival highlighted black literature, music, theater, visual arts, film and dance.
• The festival was held under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the government of Senegal and the Society of African Culture. While most other nations relied on governmental procedures to arrange participation in the festival, the United States formed a private, volunteer committee. Mrs. Virginia Inness-Brown and Dr. John A. Davis chaired the U.S. Committee and coordinated American representation at the festival. Broad based funding sources were the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Information Agency, Agency for International Development, foundations, corporations and private donors.

Call Number

Sc MG 220

OCLC

122517354

Author

United States Committee for the First World Festival of Negro Arts.

Title

United States Committee for the First World Festival of Negro Arts Press agent's files, 1964-1966.

Description

.6 linear feet

Type of Content

text

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

sheet

Summary

The records of the First World Festival of Negro Arts, U.S. Committee Press Agent Files consist of minutes of committee meetings, correspondence pertaining to the planning for American participation in the festival, pre-festival informational packets, biographical information of festival participants and U.S. Committee members, lists of material sent to the festival, press releases, material regarding a reception held for President Leopold Senghor of Senegal, and post-Festival reports. There is also a script by filmmaker William Greaves (1926-2014) however, it is not clear if it is a draft or the final script for the film he produced documenting the festival.

Biography

The First World Festival of Negro Arts took place April 1-24, 1966 in Dakar, Senegal and demonstrated the cultural ties between African nations and the rest of the world, and the impact of black culture upon world culture. The festival involved the participation of forty-five African, European, West Indian, and North and South American countries. Conceived by Senegalese President Leopold Sedar Senghor, the festival highlighted black literature, music, theater, visual arts, film and dance.

The festival was held under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the government of Senegal and the Society of African Culture. While most other nations relied on governmental procedures to arrange participation in the festival, the United States formed a private, volunteer committee. Mrs. Virginia Inness-Brown and Dr. John A. Davis chaired the U.S. Committee and coordinated American representation at the festival. Broad based funding sources were the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Information Agency, Agency for International Development, foundations, corporations and private donors.

Connect to:

Finding Aid

Added Author

Senghor, Léopold Sédar, 1906-2001.

Greaves, William.

Research Call Number

Sc MG 220