Brooklyn, NY-- As keepers of a culture grounded in artistic expression and national pride, the officers and members of J’Ouvert City International are saddened to announce that for yet another year the pre-dawn parade on Labor Day has been cancelled. Recognizing the importance of this event to both the cultural and fiscal health of the City, the 37-year-old organization had hoped to be able to stage some adaptation of the festival.
Winning Fancy Old Mas - Pagwah Mas Band - J’Ouvert 2016 Brooklyn
“Once the city began to slowly open up after a year of being shut down due to COVID-19 we hoped to put some innovative aspects of J’Ouvert on display,” said Yvette Rennie, President of J’Ouvert City International. “Sadly, the cons outweigh the pros when we look at the bigger picture of the health, well-being and safety of our participants and the viewing public as well.”
Like its counterpart of the colorful Eastern Parkway parade, the J’Ouvert early morning parade is an event which takes months of pre-planning, band rehearsals and creating the costumes worn by revelers. Moreover, in order to bring their creations to life for the moving street theatre, the mas and steelbands leaders associated with J’Ouvert promote events during the year to raise the necessary funds.
“With occasions to socialize at crowd level greatly compromised due to the pandemic, fundraising opportunities came to a screeching halt,” said Rennie. “And even though our city has opened up for business, the Delta variant of the COVID-19 is now so much of a concern that it quelled our desire to congregate even in some small measure.”
Despite these limitations, J’Ouvert City International has not been dormant during the pandemic but has found ways to keep the cultural flames alive with several virtual educational events.
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