Recognizing and celebrating the 20th anniversary of the National Black Arts Festival.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1286) recognizing and celebrating the 20th anniversary of the National Black Arts Festival.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 1286 into the Record.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume.

I rise today in support of H. Res. 1286, which recognizes the contributions of African American artwork to the United States. African Americans use dance, music, visual arts, theater and variations of these art forms to express their cultural heritage and personal identity. The annual National Black Arts Festival based in Atlanta, Georgia, celebrates the artistic contributions of people of African descent to the rest of the world.

After a study in 1987 commissioned by the Fulton County Arts Council, the local agency unveiled a need to commemorate the artistic accomplishments of the African diaspora. In 1988, the first National Black Arts Festival took place in Atlanta, Georgia.

Today the festival lasts 10 days and includes major events like the Pan African Film Festival, which is the Nation's largest event dedicated to showing black films. It will also include a dance tribute to Judith Jamison, Oprah Winfrey's presentation of ``The Color Purple,'' creative conversations with Cornell West and Alice Walker and a jubilant musical evening with Gladys Knight. The festival is full of performances, speaker series, visual arts and a number of student and family programs.

NBAF has evolved into a year-round cultural institution dedicated to serving artists, audiences, teachers and students by providing opportunities for artistic and creative expression and sponsoring an educational and humanities program. Every year there is a summer institute, an African American history elementary quiz bowl, and a children's education village for the youth to learn about African American history.

Black artists have influenced history, education and culture, and African Americans continue to make instrumental contributions to all facets of art. Within their organization, NBAF organizes pieces of black art to educate and entertain fans of African American talent. NBAF helps educate the Nation about components of black culture by hosting such an extensive program in Atlanta. We therefore recognize the contribution of the organization as well as acknowledge the number of black artists affecting our Nation.

Once again I express my support for the National Black Arts Festival and urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of House Resolution 1286, recognizing and celebrating the 20th anniversary of the National Black Arts Festival.

The National Black Arts Festival was founded in 1987 after the Fulton County Arts Council commissioned a study to explore the feasibility of creating a festival dedicated to celebrating and advancing the work of artists of African descent. The study provided compelling reasons why the Atlanta community was the right place for such a festival, and with Fulton County government as the major sponsor, joined by additional corporate and foundation sponsors, the Festival's first biannual summer festival was held in 1988.

The 10-day event served as the country's first-ever summer festival featuring hundreds of artists of African descent. Half a million attendees took part in a triumphant celebration of African art, music and culture.

Over the last 20 years, artist and attendees alike have come to expect emerging and renowned artists to grace the stages and exhibit spaces of the city; collectors look eagerly to the artists' market for the next opportunity to buy from some of the best artists in

the country; film fans flock to the screenings of known and unknown work; and concert halls are filled with the voices and instruments of those who are considered to be the best in jazz, gospel, R&B and everything in between.

As the festival established itself as one of the most important festivals in the world presenting the art and culture of the African diaspora, it seized the opportunity to expand the year-round educational and humanities programming in addition to hosting the festival every year.

The NBAF connects with people of all ages and races and celebrates diversity, while striking a common chord that resonates with all Americans like no other festival or arts organization. The festival is a cultural institution dedicated to serving artists, audiences, teachers and students by providing opportunities for artistic and creative expression and sponsoring educational and humanities programs to deepen historical and cultural understanding of African and African American culture.

To date, the NBAF has touched over 5 million people and is one of the premier festivals in the world. Today we honor it for its 20 years of dedicated service to the arts and education in the greater Atlantic area as well as to the country.

I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Education and Labor Committee and the Majority Leader and his staff for their help in bringing this bill to the floor.

Today I rise to honor and celebrate the 20th anniversary of the National Black Arts Festival. This wonderful festival is taking place right now in my district--the 5th Congressional District of Georgia.

Each year, Atlanta welcomes thousands of visitors, artists, and performers who come from across the country and all over the World to take part in the National Black Arts Festival.

The two week festival is an incredible showcase of the arts and cultures of the African Diaspora.

The National Black Arts Festival has become a leader in arts- education in Atlanta, and across the country organizing special art events for students, including the African American History Quiz Bowl, professional development courses for teachers, and international trips to experience foreign art first hand.

The year-long education programs of the National Black Arts Festival help open the eyes of our young people to sculpture, and painting, to music and writing. It opens windows to the world.

We must reach more students, and more teachers, from around the country and around the world.

I am proud of what the National Black Arts Festival has accomplished over the last 20 years. The sky is the limit for this wonderful organization, led by its talented Executive Producer Stephanie Hughley.

I ask my colleagues to join me today to celebrate the National Black Arts Festival, and the rich artistic history and diversity of the African Diaspora throughout the world.

I am so proud to have the National Black Arts Festival in my district and I look forward to its continued success.

I yield back the balance of my time.