Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. World Leaders. World Art. World Class. The Biennial of the Americas is a month long cultural celebration of innovation, imagination and the artistic achievement of the Western Hemisphere, hosted by the city of Denver. In this issue: - A Transnational Summit of Former Heads of State - McNichols Prepares for "Nature of Things" Exhibit - Volunteer Corner - Cultural Programming Continues to Come Together - Come Celebrate with us Tonight! - Get Connected The Americas Roundtable Presents A Transnational Summit of Former Heads of State in Partnership with: The Global Center for Development and Democracy On July 12, 2010 fourteen of the Western Hemisphere's former Presidents and Vice-Presidents will gather in Denver to engage in a dialogue about the past, present, and - most importantly - the future of the Americas. This Transnational Summit of Former Heads of State will take place as part of The Americas Roundtable of the Biennial of the Americas and in partnership with the Global Center for Development and Democracy, headquartered in Lima, Peru with offices in Washington, DC and Madrid, Spain. Dr. Alejandro Toledo, former President of the Republic of Peru established the Global Center to promote sustainable democracy, economic development, poverty reduction and social inclusion for marginalized communities. The Center accomplishes its mission by initiating projects and programs designed to build a better understanding of poverty, social inequality, and the historical imbalances that exist in disadvantaged regions. The Center has focused on crafting and implementing practical solutions to promote the well-being of individuals, particularly women, in economically disenfranchised communities throughout the world. According to Jim Polsfut, president of The Americas Roundtable, "Perhaps no one is more knowledgeable or better equipped to comment on the needs of his or her country than a former head of state, now unrestrained by the confines of political office." The Transnational Summit of Former Heads of State provides a forum in which to discuss the findings and recommendations of the former leaders in their publicized Social Agenda for Democracy in Latin America for the next 20 years. Authored by a task force of 20 former Latin American Presidents as well as experts from academia, private sector, and multi-lateral organizations, the Social Agenda covers 16 social issues and 63 specific public and private policy recommendations. In November 2009, the Global Center formally presented the Social Agenda to current heads of state at the Ibero-American Summit in Estorial, Portugal. For the first time since that presentation, a delegation of the Global Center will have the opportunity to discuss the Social Agenda in the United States, during the Biennial here in Colorado. Participants in the Transnational Summit of Former Heads of State include: Alejandro Toledo, delegation leader, former President, 2001-2006 (Peru) Fernando de la Rùa, former President, 1999-2001 (Argentina) Carlos D. Mesa, former President, 2003-2005 (Bolivia) Fernando Henrique Cardoso, former President, 1995-2003 (Brazil) Hipólito Mejìa, former President, 2000-2004 (Dominican Republic) Rodrigo Borja, former President, 1988-1992 (Ecuador) Gustavo Noboa, former President, 2000-2003 (Ecuador) Antonio Saca, former President, 2004-2009 (El Salvador) Vinicio Cerezo, former President, 1986-1991 (Guatemala) Eduardo Stein, former Vice President, 2004-2008 (Guatemala) Ricardo Maduro, former President, 2002-2006 (Honduras) Vicente Fox, former President, 2000-2006 (Mexico) Nicolas Ardito Barletta, former President, 1984-1985 (Panama) Mark your calendars! The Transnational Summit of Former Heads of State will be held in a roundtable format and take place in front of a public audience at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House on Monday, July 12 at 10:30 am (immediately after The Americas Roundtable on Trade.) This is indeed a unique opportunity for Coloradans and the general public as a whole to hear some of the greatest and most influential minds of the Western Hemisphere as they seek to address the issues that affect us all. McNichols Prepares for "Nature of Things" Exhibit Felipe Mujica (Chile) "Falling Down," 2006 Fabric and thread, 10'x10' Exhibition "Contragolpe," Berlin Courtesy of the artist Three months prior to the opening of the exhibition "The Nature of Things," the outside of the McNichols building in Civic Center Park may not be showing clear signs of the transformation it has been undergoing since the end of last year, but its inside is completely renewed; exposed I would say. Its three floors are now completely open, cleared of all construction of what was until very recently a government office building: steel beams and brick walls exposed, windows running all around its periphery illuminating the inside, far from what it looked like last year when the city decided to recuperate this building to turn it into a public space. Now converted in the main stage of the first edition of the Biennial of the Americas, this building will be open to the public for the first time in sixty years. The projects that the artists participating in the exhibition are currently developing for this space have also started to determine how this space will look in July. Many of these projects establish a dialogue with the architecture and the history of this building. One good example of this is the participation of the Mexican artist Jerónimo Hagerman who has been commissioned a site-specific installation for the front exterior area of the McNichols building. His proposal conceptually intervenes the Greek revival façade of the north side, and creates an unexpected situation in the entrance that intends to prompt passersby to socialize and be drawn towards the inside. More that twenty-five artists, designers and architects from throughout the continent have been invited to present their work in this exhibition and many of them will be producing their pieces on site during the month of June. Alongside the exhibited artworks, three series of public programming will take place during the month-long event: "The Nature of Things" - Speaker Series, a forum for conversation and idea exchange; a programming of Live Performances that will showcase contemporary and experimental musicians and multimedia artists from different countries; and Kids-Patch, series dedicated to "new children's creativity" where each event consists of a series of workshops related to the fields of music, graphic art, performance and new media. Paola Santoscoy Curator Volunteer Corner "Culture, arts, politics and people. I joined this effort because America and its neighbors in the Western Hemisphere are made of extraordinary stories and history. To gather 35 countries in a celebration of all that we are is an opportunity not to miss. Sustaining the gathering of these things is dependent on our putting the best celebration together that we can. We have joined this effort to engage ourselves and others in a very important interaction that connects the Americas in a way that has not been done before. This will be a great thing for Denver and a great experience for all who engage in it." Tim Connors, Biennial Volunteer Basic Food Group Mezcal, Famous Dave's, Great Northern, Avenue Grill Volunteers continue to help move the Biennial programs forward. The Speaker Bureau members have completed seven presentations and have many more scheduled. To schedule a Biennial 101 presentation for your group, please call Fabby at 303-295-1043. The Education Committee has launched the Biennial Kids Poster Contest for grades K-5th. Winners will have their posters reproduced to advertise the Biennial throughout metro-Denver, be invited to a special reception and get free tickets to McNichols and other special cultural programming. To learn more, download this PDF. If you know any school or group that would like to participate please let us know! Finally, the Hospitality Committee, featured volunteer Tim Connors, has finalized the Host Restaurant program and held a community meeting to encourage restaurants to participate. Nearly thirty restaurant owners attended the meeting to find out about the program. "The energy and excitement in the room was amazing," said Fabby Hillyard, Director of Volunteers. To learn more about how your restaurant can be a part of the Biennial's month-long celebration of the Western Hemisphere, please call Fabby at 303-295-1043. Cultural Programming Continues to Come Together President Taft and Andrew Carnegie at the OAS headquarters 100 years ago where the original Peace Tree was planted The list of art and culture partners and events continues to grow. One of the most interesting -- and valued -- partners of the Biennial is the Organization of American States ("OAS"). Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the OAS is the world's oldest regional organization, promoting peace, security and development in the Americas. It constitutes the principal political, juridical, and social governmental forum in the Hemisphere. One hundred years ago, President Taft and Andrew Carnegie participated in the Peace Tree Planting Ceremony on the grounds of the OAS to dedicate their new headquarters in Washington, D.C. One hundred years later, the OAS is bringing a sapling from that very same tree (a hybrid of an African fig and rubber tree) to the Biennial. It will be planted at the Denver Botanic Gardens to celebrate both the Biennial and the important work of the OAS. The Biennial website will provide details on the time and date for the ceremony. In addition, the OAS has brought to the Biennial the Youth Orchestra of the Americas (YOA). With young musicians from throughout the Americas, the YOA is teaming up with the University of Denver for a concert at the Newman Center the evening of Friday, July 9. Speaking of the University of Denver, a new addition to Biennial programming is the Pan Ramajay Steel Drum Festival at DU. From July 12-15, evening steel drum recitals will be held at 8:00 p.m. at the Hamilton Hall in the Newman Center. Then, on Friday, July 16, the week's festivities will culminate in an 8:00 p.m. concert at the Newman Center by Ray Holman, renowned steel drum composer and performer from Trinidad and Tobago. Come Celebrate with us Tonight! Be one of the lucky few to get a first look at the historic face of this extraordinary reflection of Denver's rich history! Join us, mid-construction, for the debut event of the Biennial of the Americas at the site of the under-renovations McNichols building at Civic Center Park. Mingle with local and international guests as we savor the bright flavors of Denver's bold culinary talents featuring fare from Mezcal, Avenue Grill, Three Tomatoes Catering and more. Enjoy the spectacle of live entertainment while exploring this historic gem, and try to guess where the future art installations will end up. Please excuse our dust!! Tickets $100, limited availability RSVP to gala@biennialoftheamericas.org or 303.547.4066 Get Connected You can instantly unsubscribe from these emails by clicking here.