Imagine Festival Combines Art and Politics in Cultural Counterpoint to GOP Convention

Interview with Chris Wangro, co-founder and an executive producer, of the Imagine Festival of Arts, Issues and Ideas, conducted by Melinda Tuhus

The days preceding and during the Republican National Convention in New York City were filled with protests of all kinds: massive bike rides, non-violent civil disobedience, and a massive legal march of hundreds of thousands. But cultural events with a political twist have also been part of the convention scene. The Imagine Festival of Arts, Issues and Ideas is holding more than 200 events, including concerts, film screenings, forums, theater, poetry and more, focused on the many critical issues facing the nation and the world this election year.

The festival, which featured artists such as Yoko Ono, comedian Margaret Cho, actor Richard Gere, playwright Tony Kushner, and musician Lou Reed, promoted the themes of freedom, community, democracy, justice, prosperity and future.

Between The Lines' Melinda Tuhus spoke with Chris Wangro, co-founder and co-executive producer of the festival, before a kick-off celebration at a nightclub on Aug. 28. Wangro is the former director of special events for the New York City Parks Dept, and an organizer of massive public events such as the papal mass in Central Park. He says this arts festival is meant to engage participants, encouraging them to think and to dialogue with their neighbors.

Visit the group's website at www.imagine04.org

LISTEN to this week's half-hour program of Between The Lines by clicking on one of the links below:

www.btlonline.org
*
"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: httC://www.btlonline.org
*
"Between the Lines," WPKN 89.5 FM's weekly radio news magazine can be heard Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. ET; Wednesdays at 8 a.m. ET and Saturdays at 2 p.m. ET (Wednesday's show airs at 7:30 a.m. ET during fundraising months of April and October).
*
For an email subscription of "Between The Lines Weekly Summary" which features a RealAudio link to the week's program for Between The Lines, send an email to btlsummary-subscribe-AT-lists.riseup.net
*
For an email subscription of "Between The Lines Q&A" which features a RealAudio link and weekly transcript to one of the interviews featured on Between The Lines, send an email to btlqa-subscribe-AT-lists.riseup.net
*
betweenthelines-AT-snet.net
*
www.squeakywheel.net/
*
Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions, Inc.
(c)2004 Squeaky Wheel Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.