It’s a Quick Trip Across the Q-Bridge For 200 Arts & Ideas Events

New Haven's International Festival of Arts & Ideas has a lot to celebrate this year.

Besides two weeks filled with a stellar lineup of talent-starting off on Saturday, June 11 with a free concert on the Green by Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble-the festival was just named one of the top 20 destination events in the world for 2011 by National Geographic Traveler.

In addition, Arts & Ideas was awarded a $73,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)-the third largest grant awarded nationally in the "presenting" category. Combined with a previous $35,000 American Masterpieces grant, NEA has provided $108,000 for this year's Festival programming.

"The National Endowment of the Arts usually gives a small amount of money, but a great endorsement. This year they gave us both," said Mary Lou Aleskie, the festival's executive director, speaking at a recent shoreline gathering to announce the 2011 program. "It's a humbling and rewarding thing."

Referring to this year's festival subtitle, "Across Borders, Beyond Time," Aleskie stressed that 80 percent of the events are free and "it's really about participating without borders.

"Two hundred events take place in the course of these 15 days, rooted in celebration of historical traditions that artists make [meaningful] and contemporary in the world today," she added.

"The festival gets you to stretch your thoughts and imagination about what the arts are," said Gordon Geballe of Stony Creek, the festival's board chair for the past five years.

"This is live performing arts; it's not watching a DVD or TV or going to the movies," he said. "Different things bring us together, like sports event. People come together as an audience for some reason. This [creates] community by bringing people to New Haven to be part of this festival."

In describing this year's performances, Aleskie also said "this is a very special opportunity to welcome Yo-Yo Ma to the festival."

"He's used to a real venue with seats, etc.," she joked. "Even though our budget had been cut by 30 percent, being the risk-takers we are, we asked him, and it took a second and he said, 'Absolutely.'"

Aleskie noted that Yo-Yo Ma's performance with the Silk Road Ensemble is very different from his solo performances in that it brings together international virtuosos from both Eastern and Western traditions at contemporary musical crossroads "in an engaging dynamic celebration."

As part of the Ideas portion of the Festival, on June 11 at 3 p.m. in Yale University's Sprague Hall, Yo-Yo Ma will also give a free lecture on how art and music provide cross-cultural exchanges that connect us globally and culturally.

Aleskie went on to give an overview of this year's events, including the critically acclaimed The Cripple of Inishmaan, a co-production by Druid Theatre of Galway and Atlantic Theater Company of New York; Susan Marshall & Company's Adamantine dance performance and video installation; Jack Hitt of This American Life's Making up the Truth, a wondrous new solo theater work; and Soldier Songs, a one-man opera composed by David T. Little based on his interviews with veterans.

Joseph Conde backed by the nu Latin groove will give a free evening concert on the Green on Sunday, June 12, preceded at 3 p.m. by Baby Loves Salsa, an interactive, family friendly program.

Interview with Haiti's Emeline Michel

Emeline Michel, dubbed the reigning queen of Haitian song, is a versatile vocalist, singer/songwriter, and accomplished dancer. Her songs (on nine CDs) combine traditional Caribbean rhythms with social, political, and inspirational lyrics, which she sings in French and Haitian Creole.

Michel has appeared all over the world and performed in the 2010 earthquake relief benefit "Hope for Haiti Now."

She will give a Courtyard Concert on Thursday, June 16 at

8 p.m. (ticketed event). She will also speak in a free Ideas program titled "Haiti: Models for Rebirth" on Wednesday,

June 15 at 5:30 p.m. at Yale Center for British Art and she'll give a free Dance Master Class on June 16 at 10 a.m. (venue to be determined).

In a phone interview, the Haitian native, who now resides in New York City, spoke about her music and her beloved country.

"I believe in great songs," she said. "I always think the story carries everything. I start with a strong melody; it's key to my writing."

Michel said her Haitian roots have always informed her lyrics.

"Growing up in Haiti, you are constantly in a political climate with political discontent," she said. "As a child, it touches you profoundly, and as a musician, it's a way to express it and connect to people."

As an artist and voice for her country, Michel feels an obligation to maintain a sense of hope and optimism in her music-particularly after the earthquake.

"I'm grateful every day when I see some of the people I know who still don't have a place to stay," Michel said. "I left Haiti [for New York] on Jan. 1 and the earthquake happened on the 12th. I was with my son in the countryside and, 12 days later, I'm here.

"Therefore," she continued, "every day I look for a way to bring us up, to really look forward one day at a time and to remind Haitians, 'You're the soul of this country. Wherever you are, you've got to carry on.' The media turns their heads and people forget that it's going to be a long ride, [but] Haitians are resilient people. It's important to be uplifting and help people transcend, in my albums, my writing."

Michel said that she came from a family that couldn't afford to give her more than the basics.

"I was fortunate to have people pop into my life and give me a grant to study music," she said. "It was my only legacy, even when there wasn't food on the table, to carry yourself with pride and know you're going to make it and grow up with a sense of hope."

Michel sees Haitian youth as the hope and the future of Haiti, which she will talk about in her Ideas program.

Referring to last year's earthquake relief concert, she said, "I saw so much new talent and ideas, so much powerful dance and poetry, right in front of me. We need to keep the youth of my country busy, creating, for that rebirth to be really tangible...[to] find a way for it to come to life.

"I'm amazed what can be done with nothing. Just imagine what could be done with the proper tools and resources," she stressed. "There's so much potential. If we can help the youth become more self-sufficient and excited about something positive, it will turn a whole generation around."

For complete, detailed descriptions of Festival performances and events and to purchase tickets, memberships, and sponsorships, visit www.artidea.org.