Greetings Zimfest community,
Applications for teaching, performing and presenting at Zimfest 2022 in Mount Vernon, WA are now open. Applications close February 28, so please get your applications in soon! We are aware that the omicron variant of COVID-19 is raging across the country, but we are forging ahead with the work of organizing an in-person festival June 24-26 with fingers crossed. Please read the current COVID Safety precautions provided by the ZA Board.
Information and the application button for (live) performers is here.
Information and the application button for those wishing to submit pre-recorded performances or presentations is here.
Information and the application button for teachers is here. Once you have submitted a teacher application, you will be sent a link to propose one or more (in-person) workshops.
Things to keep in mind:
- Performers may be accepted either for free daytime concerts at the Skagit County Fairgrounds or ticketed evening concerts at the Lincoln Theatre. The theater’s COVID health and safety policy appears here.
- Individuals who are accepted as teachers will be asked to complete a background check if they did not teach at Zimfest in 2019.
- We love to see workshop proposals for theoretical topics (e.g. African rhythms, song structure and improvisation), songs, and cultural presentations of all sorts – in addition to the ever-popular marimba and mbira.
- Workshop times: participant feedback indicates that hosho and dance workshops of 90 minutes work well. Many intermediate marimba students have requested longer workshops, and we can schedule a few for 2 1/2 hours. See detailed Workshop Proposal information here (scroll down the page).
- The Zimfest Organizing Committee is still looking for individuals with expertise in graphic design and concert production (both big jobs!). Please write to volunteers{at}zimfest[dot}org to volunteer or make suggestions!
Claire Jones, Festival Coordinator
Would Zimfest consider on-site COVID testing instead of a vaccine requirement? Participants could arrive with a negative test in hand and then be tested throughout the weekend. Since we now know that vaccinated folks can contract and spread the current COVID strain wouldn’t a testing approach make us more safe?
MyLinda, thanks for your comment. The Zimfest Covid Safety Committee is still in the process of developing policies (see https://zimfest.org/festival/overview/). We are bound in part by Covid policies at the venues; for example, the Lincoln Theatre, where evening concerts will be held, only accepts Covid tests administered by an official healthcare laboratory https://lincolntheatre.org/film/covid-19-health-safety-policy and won’t accept over-the-counter tests. We will post updates as the Zimfest safety policies take shape.