Above: Recapping highlights from the public schools’ arts festival last week. (images L-R cropped from photos by Sean Bevan and Laney Halsey)
A festival hosted by Algonquin gave Northborough and Southborough students the opportunity to display their individual cultures and the artistic talents that accompany them.
The goal of the Culture and Music Festival was to highlight the diverse art and music in Northborough, Southborough, and the surrounding towns. This was accomplished through a variety of musical acts, as well as stations set up by community members.
The third annual event last Wednesay was organized by NSBORO public schools’ Coalition for Equity and the Multilingual Learner Department which works with students to improve English proficiency. The community was invited to attend for free.
The musical performances were hosted in the Algonquin Auditorium, and booths lined the adjacent hallway.
The booths highlighted a variety of different cultures, and were created by various community groups. Algonquin students from the National Art Honor Society contributed to an art exhibit, and had a face painting activity, while members of the Spanish National Honor Society led crafts for the younger attendees.
My personal favorite was an art exhibit by the Century Chinese Language School where dozens of paintings were displayed.
(Click thumbnails below to see some of my photo highlights from the exhibit area.)
The festival began at 6:00 with the stage performances being opened at 6:30 by six multilingual Algonquin students. Each of them introduced themselves and the event in a different language. It was a simple but impactful way to showcase the diversity of their backgrounds and the universality of the event’s message. It effectively fostered an atmosphere of cultural appreciation right off the bat.
The performances were kicked off by the Murphy Academy of Irish Step Dancing, where seven dancers lit up the stage and inspired the audience. The auditorium was filled with clapping and the quick taps of the dancers’ shoes.
Below are a few of my photos of the stage performances, along with ones shared by ARHS Principal Sean Bevan (click thumbnails for photo credits):
The energy throughout the entire night was electric. All twelve performances were fantastic, and I am already excited to see what the organization shares with us next year!
(Story by intern Laney Halsey with edits by Beth Melo.)
