Bob Boilen
A new festival and conference will gather musicians, writers, filmmakers, activists and media personalities in Asheville from Friday, April 20, through Sunday, April 22, to discuss creativity, marketing art and the intersection of art and activism, among other topics.
The event is the brainchild of Jessica Tomasin, studio manager at Echo Mountain Recording. “Music, film and literature are all areas of passion for me,” she says, “and Asheville has such a rich arts history; it just seems a natural fit. I also wanted to create an event founded on more than just entertainment, which is how the element of social justice came into play.”
Among the industry professionals attending are Bob Boilen, host of NPR’s All Songs Considered and Tiny Desk Concert, who will host a live interview with musicians Christopher Paul Stelling and Sylvan Esso based on his book Your Song Changed My Life. Other participants include author Starhawk, playwright Lydia Diamond and India Osborne, a Hollywood producer and VFX (visual effects) specialist.
Panels include “Ready, Set, Action!,” which provides steps on taking action against a social issue. “Not only will attendees be able to leave with actual tools,” Tomasin says, “they will also have an opportunity to connect with other participants who are drawn to the experience for the same reasons.”
Plans are to make Connect: Beyond the Page an annual event and to host community events throughout the year. Festival organizers have partnered with Same Side, a nonprofit that specializes in creating events and experiences that lead to social justice. “We will continue to plan events in partnership throughout the year to bring people together on different social issues such as calling and writing to Congress and local representatives on a variety of issues ranging from climate change to prison reform,” Tomasin says.
For a complete schedule of events and ticket information, visit connectbeyondthepage.com.
