VZCZCXYZ0101
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHPO #0211/01 1412033
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 202033Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0181

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000211 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR WHA/PDA COLOMBIA BARROSSE, BRIAN GUSS, AND CHAD WEST, 
WHA/CAR JROSHOLT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OEXC NS
SUBJECT: Performing Arts Initiative Proposal: Kevin Jones Outreach 
Tour in Suriname 
 
Ref:  Paramaribo 140 
 
 
¶1.  The following is a Performing Arts Initiative Proposal. 
 
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Activity description 
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¶2.  Post will host Kevin Jones, a jazz musician who has previously 
performed in Paramaribo as part of the State Department's Jazz 
Ambassadors program "Rhythm Road."  The program is scheduled for 
June 30 - July 5, 2008, and will include music workshops at various 
music schools in Suriname.  The program will culminate in a 4th of 
July performance with 23 Surinamese artists, collectively known as 
"Ala Kondre Dron," or "all nations' drums," to promote a message of 
multi-cultural unity.  Target audiences cover a wide spectrum from 
school-age students of music (the national public music school and 
national music school) to music teachers (the music college) to the 
business, arts, non-governmental organization, and political 
communities of Suriname (July 4th celebration). 
 
¶3.  Mr. Jones' value as a performer and as an effective outreach 
asset was made evident in the positive reception he received when he 
first performed in Paramaribo in January, 2007.  Many of last year's 
rhythm road attendees have been appealing to the embassy for a 
repeat visit, and his return is expected to draw substantial 
audiences during his week in country.  Mr. Jones is also an 
in-demand performer in the New York jazz scene.  Those he has 
recorded with include the Isley Brothers, Archie Shepp, Charles 
McPherson, Babatunde Lea, and Joey DeFrancesco, and had performed 
with artists including Whitney Houston and Reggie Workman.  He was 
co-producer of one of Lea's records, which charted at #6 on the 
JazzWeek Radio Chart.  In addition, Mr. Jones is a skilled teacher 
of percussion instruments and has taught in a variety of classroom 
settings, from master classes for at risk children, to clinics on 
jazz percussion, to teaching residencies with the Bronx Art 
Ensemble. 
 
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Tentative Schedule 
------------------ 
 
¶4.  The program is tentatively scheduled as follows: 
 
June 30:  arrival; workshop at Effendi Ketwaru National Music School 
(Cultural Center Suriname); rehearsal with Ala Kondre Dron 
 
July 1:  music festival at Tori Oso (Suriname Emancipation Day 
event) 
 
July 2:  workshop at IOL (music department of the Advanced Teachers' 
College).  School visits/performances for underpriviledged children 
in villages in interior villages of Brokopondo District. 
 
July 3:  workshop at NVMS (National Public Music School); rehearsal 
with Ala Kondre Dron 
 
July 4:  performance with Ala Kondre Dron at Independence Day 
reception at Ambassador's residence 
 
July 5: depart 
 
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Budget 
------ 
 
¶5.  Budget: 
 
U.S. $1,000.00:  Artist fee (5 days at $200 apiece) 
U.S. $1,042.30:  round-trip airfare New York/Suriname 
U.S. $  100.00:  Surinamese visa 
U.S. $  150.00:  miscellaneous travel expenses, including 
transportation to/from U.S. airport and visa FedEx fees) 
U.S. $2,292.30:  Total 
 
---------------------------- 
U.S. and Post-specific goals 
---------------------------- 
 
¶6.  The Kevin Jones program will support Post's Mission Strategic 
Plan (MSP) goal of promoting mutual appreciation and respect between 
the general populations of the United States and suriname, and 
supports the departmental goal of improving international 
understanding. 
 
¶7.  Anti-american sentiment, while not as virulent as in other parts 
of the region, is evident in Suriname.  Over the past year, Post has 
initiated an aggressive cultural programming schedule to improve the 
image of the United States with the Surinamese public and to 
 
complement the positive coverage generated by our effective law 
enforcement programs and U.S. military sponsored humanitarian 
assistance exercises.  The Kevin Jones performances will be an 
excellent addition to the FY08 cultural programming that has already 
taken place, including the "Rhythm Road" concerts, and the series of 
events held in honor of black history month: (two public concerts, 
one private "jazz jam," and one workshop by the Kelley Johnson 
Quartet, one jazz workshop and one drumming demonstration by a local 
artist, one movie night, two lectures on Black History topics, and 
one Ambassador-hosted lunch for stakeholders.  For further details, 
see Paramaribo 140, "Two Months, Ten Events, Fifteen Hundred Guests: 
Black History Punches-Up in Suriname").  Post has already seen 
positive results from this added emphasis on cultural programming. 
The MSP calls for an average of six positive print stories per year, 
and over the past year post averaged sixteen.  Post anticipates that 
Mr. Jones' performance will continue to increase the amount of 
positive media coverage of U.S. activities in Suriname, and continue 
to deepen Surinamese acceptance of a message of U.S. cultural 
diversity and ethnic tolerance, values honored very highly by 
Surinamers. 
 
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Co-sponsor information 
---------------------- 
 
¶8.  U.S. businesses operating in Suriname, including Avon and 
Popeye's Chicken, have contributed over $3,000 to the July 4th 
celebration.  Other aspects of the program will receive donated 
space and volunteer resources for concerts and workshops from the 
Surinamese National Public Music School (which is also a recipient 
of an Ambassador's Cultural Fund grant), the National Music School, 
and the Teachers' College.  The students and teachers from these 
schools will provide much of the assistance for programming lasting 
from June 30 to July 3. 
 
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Program measurement 
------------------- 
 
¶9.  Post will adhere to the reporting requirement as outlined in 
SECSTATE 156978, and report program results via cable express and 
mission activity tracker no later than two weeks after program 
completion. 
 
¶10.  Post will assess program results via the following quantifiable 
indicators: level of attendance at events, and number of positive 
media stories that report on the program's events. 
 
GENTON