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CONTACT:   Brenda V. Peek, Festival Media Relations, 248-227-1350

       John Hollingsworth, Festival Director, 517-630-1504

WHAT:

      The Starr Summer Youth Festival, featuring hundreds of Detroit's youngest artists and performers, ages 6-18, coming together for a daylong celebration of the arts. A new event featuring three stages of music, dance, theatre, spoken word, visual art and a Young Artists' Market. (See partial list of participants.)

      A tribute to Detroit jazz legend Marcus Belgrave who will be on hand to receive the first Starr Art of Resilience Award for mentoring generations of young Detroit musicians.

      A free, family-friendly event with hands-on art activities and free lunches on a first come basis for young people up to age 18

WHEN:

      Sunday, August 10, 2014

      Festival set-up begins at 7:00 a.m. (Early media opportunities available)

      Starr Summer Youth Festival performances from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

      On-stage tribute to Marcus Belgrave scheduled for 2:30 p.m. featuring a performance by jazz pianist Ian Finkelstein with Marcus Elliot on saxophone and other musicians mentored by Belgrave

WHERE:

     The Starr Summer Youth Festival is a new event sponsored by St Paradise Valley Park (formerly Harmonie Park) and the Carr Center, 311 East Grand River, Detroit, MI

BACKGROUND: 

Starr Commonwealth, a social services agency that promotes positive youth development and has been serving Detroit children and families for more than 100 years. The Festival is part of Starr's Art of Resilience Project, a long-term initiative designed to promote, support and celebrate the resilience of Detroit's young people and their communities. In its first year, the event received support from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan.

PARTIAL LIST OF PARTICIPANTS:

      Al Nur                                                                      African Dance

      Alkebulon Village                                                            Martial Arts

      All Starr Choir                                       Solo and duet performances

      The Arab American Museum                                     Photography

      Cresendo                                           Music, dance and spoken word

      Cultural Roots Arts Camp                     Visual arts, African dance         Detroit Youth Concert Choir                          Broadway show tunes

      Detroit-Windsor Dance Academy                            Dance

      The Development Center                         Visual arts, spoken word

      Heritage Works

      Key Way to Kids                                                 Video presentation

      Matrix Theatre Company                                            Original play

      Metro Detroit Underground                            Instrumental music

      Mosaic Youth Theatre

      Motor City Dance                               Modern dance, Hip-Hop

      Onila Campbell                                                                 Piano solo

      STICK (Support the Urban Kids)                                        Drumline

      Urban StringzII                                                       Classical music

      Virgil Carr Center                                       Dance, music, visual art