Lahore, Pakistan - The World Performing & Visual Arts Festival Pakistan 2005 is being held from 17th - 27th November to celebrate the true spirit of artistic expression and exchange. It features music, theatre, puppetry, dance and film from all over the world.

Today the World Performing Arts Festival is the largest Festival of its kind in South East Asia. Enjoying overwhelming support from diverse audiences, it is also one of the leading events of Cultural and Artistic exchange between the East and the West.

This year the festival will feature more than 1000 performers hailing from 40 countries. Diverse musical genres such as World Music, African, Rock, Pop, Folk, Jazz, Sufi Soul, and Fusion would be presented in this festival. Theatre traditions from varied cultural origins would be on display. Performances in both classical and modern Dance styles would be conducted. Puppeteers from all over the world will entertain and educate the audience with their skill and creativity. An intensive Cinematic experience will be delivered to the audience through Feature Films, Short Films and Documentaries, from different countries.

"We actively encourage and facilitate artistic collaborations between artists from different countries. Artists who have previously participated in the festival have tremendously enjoyed holding joint performances with Pakistani artists."

Introduction

Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop is the oldest independent theatre/puppet company of Pakistan. It was founded in 1974 as a Not for Profit Organization and is the only group in Pakistan which is organizing Major International Arts Festivals. In 1992 Rafi Peer Theatre staged its first Puppet Festival and during the last 13 years it has produced 19 international festivals of Puppetry, Theatre, Dance, Music and Film. These festivals have featured over 2500 performances by approximately 5000 artists from more than 76 countries.

The World Arts performing and Visual Arts Festival consists of many forms and styles of Theatre, Dance, Music, Puppets, Film from traditional to contemporary arts which serves as a meeting point for Eastern and Western Musicians, Dancers, Puppeteers, Theatre Artists, and Film Makers.

Lahore, one of the cultural centers of not only Pakistan but also South Asia, hosts the Rafi Peer Theatre World Performing Arts Festival. The city of Lahore has a rich history spanning more than 2000 years. Today, Lahore is an intriguing mix of the modern and traditional.

Objectives of the World Performing Arts Festival:

• To promote international exchange of knowledge and ideas in performing arts (Drama/Dance Music/Theatre/Puppetry /Film) in order to consolidate peace and friendship between people, deepen mutual understanding and increase creative co-operation between all people in the theatre arts.
• To enact a global identity through performing arts and collaborations which will obey no man made barriers and broaden the horizons of the human mind with the messages of understanding, love, and kindness.
• To expose the public to a broad range and variety of performing arts.
• Encourage activities and creation in the field of the live performing arts (Drama, Dance, Music, Theatre, Puppetry, Film)
• Widen and increase existing collaboration between performing arts disciplines and organization, both national and international.
• Co-operate actively in the development of the “Performing Arts of Nations” and encourage and co-ordinate the organization of the arts congresses, workshops and meetings of experts, as we as Festival, exhibitions and competitions, both on regional and interregional levels,
• Defend the free development of performing arts and contribute to the protection of the rights of performing arts professionals.
• Give an opportunity to foreign groups to visit Pakistan for development work on performing arts in Pakistan.
• Harmonize strained relations between different countries, which can be brought together through the driving force of performing arts.
• To stand up for the freedom of speech through artistic expression.
• To bring about awareness of issues that concern our society such as education, civic sense, drug abuse etc.
• To keep alive the tradition of live performance.
• To promote the image the Pakistan as a country rich in culture as well as presenting our people as a nation open and eager to learn about the traditions and arts of other countries.
• To create continuity between the new and traditional art forms and concepts of performing art.
• To educate the public specifically the younger generation in the classical art forms.
• To prepare an institutional framework for the development of performing arts.

Venue & Facilities

Alhamra Cultural Complex, a magnificent red brick structure located in the heart of new Lahore, is the unique venue for this festival. It has 2 covered theatres with seating capacities of 150 and 375 respectively and an open air theatre which can seat 4000 persons. During the festival the sprawling lawns around the site accommodate special marquee/camp theatres size 100x60x22 feet which can hold many different types of performances. An estimated 20,000 people are expected to attend the festival on each of its 11 days.

The festival offers many different types of facilities for performances; we also have the capability to make special arrangements to meet specific performance needs. All the camp theatres are fully equipped with lights, sound, black masking etc. The Festival provides technical assistance in lights, sound and sets which cannot be transported from abroad.

Terms & Conditions / Hospitality

The festival covers all hospitality costs which include meals, hotel stay, local transportation and site seeing tours to historic places of Lahore. Free entry tickets to all the performances are also provided.

The Festival is willing to support groups in finding sponsorship from their governments. Such support will be given to the groups who send us complete information and are processed by the Festival jury.

In order to create a congenial environment and promote interaction among the artists, the festival offers lunch and dinner on site. Ethnic Pakistani cuisine is prepared by the festival caterers, who specialize in providing authentic and hygienic food.

One of the most enjoyable and memorable experiences of the festival are the Pakistani live music performances held exclusively for the artists who get together to experience and dance to the music.

There are several occasions when fellow Pakistani artists are invited to meet the delegates and exchange ideas, philosophies, aspirations and open their hearts and minds to each other.

Application Procedure

In order to be considered for participation, the completed entry form (enclosed) must reach the Festival Secretariat by 1st September 2005. All entry forms have to be accompanied by the following:

• A brief description of your performance.
• Completed Technical forms (enclosed) of your discipline.
• 2 passport size photographs of the participants.
• Video DVD/tape (for films), audio CD/tape (for music).
• If available, photographs/slides/videos, posters and press clippings of your performances.

Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop
# 25, F/3, Block - D
National Homes New Muslim Town
Lahore Pakistan
Tel: 0092 042 5885074
0092 042 5885075
0092 042 5885079
e-mail: rptw@brain.net.pk & rptw@magic.net.pk