ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) —
A founder describes Connect Beyond Festival as a blend between a film fest, TED talk and a Tiny Desk concert.
“Art has an opportunity to be so impactful,” founder Jessica Tomasin said. “Right? We’ve all seen a movie, or a song or something, or read a book that changed our life in some form or fashion.”
The multidisciplinary arts and culture festival returns to Asheville this week, for events Friday, June 7, to Sunday, June 9.
Friday festivities are at Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, Saturday events in the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium and Sunday there’s a community trash pickup starting at noon, at 9 Emma Road. (A full schedule is at connectbeyondfestival.com.)
With Connect Beyond, Tomasin wants to bring that life-changing art to people while highlighting the artists who created it.
“I was trying to find a way to bring people together and to use stories as a way to, one, highlight people who are doing good things in the world, and giving a platform to voices that are often underrepresented in media,” Tomasin said.
One of those figures is Jules Hotz, a solutions-based journalist and author of the book “The Connection Cure: The Prescriptive Power of Movement, Nature, Art, Service, and Belonging.”
Hotz will be appearing on a panel called “Rebalanced: Solutions Journalism for Turbulent Times” on Saturday.
“We hear pretty much nonstop about all of the problems going on in the world, and that reporting is certainly important,” Hotz said. “But some research says that audiences tend to tune out and feel hopeless after they hear only that kind of reporting. Solutions journalism is about rebalancing the news so that we also can learn about what communities are doing to address these really widely felt problems.”
For Tomasin, Connect Beyond is one thing the Asheville community is doing to find those solutions.
“It’s basically storytelling for social impact,” Tomasin said. “Talking about, like, here are some concrete ways that you can get civically engaged in your community over something that you believe in. Giving people actionable things that you can walk away with.”
Every year, Connect Beyond spotlights different community issues. According to Tomasin, this festival will focus on the climate, Indigenous rights and building resilience.
One speaker looking to connect over climate is Lonnie Holley, a 75-year-old musician and artist who has spent a lifetime telling stories about environmental disaster through art.
Holley will perform at Connect Beyond and lead a recycled art workshop Saturday morning, where he will demonstrate how hazardous waste can be transformed into works of art.
Holley’s work isn’t just about cleaning up his community. He wants his message to connect on a larger scale.
“I’m trying to speak for the planet. I’m not just speaking for my community,” Holley said. “I’m coming because it’s an opportunity for me to speak to the congregation. Everyone is the congregation. And I’m the minister of trash, garbage and debris.”
More information about all the events and speakers at Connect Beyond can be found on their website, www.connectbeyondfestival.com. Tickets for Saturday’s program are $50.