The MIGRATION FESTIVAL began four years ago when Lorna and Imre Kepes expressed interest in sharing Guatemalan art with the immigrant families who utilize programming at Montague Catholic Social Ministries in Turners Falls. Lorna, herself a programming volunteer at MCSM, knew that many of these families were of Mayan descent, originating from Guatemala and the Chiapas region of Mexico. While visiting the Center during a playgroup, the mothers – seeing the paintings from Guatemala - became nostalgic about the coffee harvest, volcanoes in the landscape, and the food of their homelands. Lorna and these women formed a plan with Montague Catholic Social Ministries to share their culture with their Franklin County neighbors.
The 4rd Annual MIGRATION FESTIVAL is scheduled on Sunday, October 13 at the Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, from 2-4 pm. Performances by Franklin Musica, a free after-school music program in Turners Falls and Greenfield for students ages 5-12..
Other activities include kids' crafts, a raffle of Guatemalan items, and refreshments. The event is FREE and handicap accessible. Sponsored by MCSM, DCR, The Guatemala Art and Culture Connection, RiverCulture, Musica Franklin, and the diverse local people of the upper Connecticut River Valley.