The 12th Festival of Pacific Arts

The Festival of the Pacific Arts (FOPA) is held every four years since 1972, bringing together artists, practitioners of performing arts and knowledge holders of craftsmanship from around the Pacific region for two weeks of festivity. It is a major regional cultural event and meeting opportunity in the Pacific that unites Pacific peoples, enhance mutual understanding and celebrate its cultural diversity.

The 12th FOPA will take place in Guam from 22 May to 4 June 2016. The 27 Pacific island countries and territories expected at the Festival are; American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Easter Island, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji Islands, French Polynesia, Guam (2016 Host), Hawaii, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Wallis and Futuna.

During the Festival, Third Meeting of the Pacific Ministers of Culture will take place on 25 May 2016. The Meeting will provide an opportunity for the cultural authorities in Pacific island states and territories to review the Regional Cultural Strategy (2010-2020) and discuss a regional approach to the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions adopted in 2005. The 2005 Convention Global Report published by UNESCO in 2015 will be launched on that occasion.

A Forum on Culture, Arts and Sustainable Development in the Pacific will be held from 30 May to 1 June 2016. The Forum will bring together practitioners, academics, and partners in heritage and creativity to highlight good practices that demonstrate the transversal role of culture and and arts to the focused areas under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Pacific. The Forum aims to provide opportunities to discuss further cooperation, networking, and partnerships in the area of culture and sustainable development.

UNESCO will also provide support to the Canoe Summit (26 May 2016) organized by Nanzen University, National Research Institute for Cultural Properties in Japan, Traditional Arts Committee in Guam and Tatasi (Seafaring) Subcommittee of the Organizing Committee of FOPA. The Summit aims to encourage the sharing of knowledge and skills related to traditional seafaring in the Pacific among practitioners, academics, and civil society organisations, to identify opportunities and challenges facing this unique shared heritage in the Pacific, and to discuss regional and international cooperation for its safeguarding and transmission. Presentation and demonstration of UNESCO project "The Canoe is the People (TCITP)" will be held at the Summit.