MANIFESTO IS BACK! TORONTO'S FESTIVAL OF ARTS AND MUSIC.

MANIFESTO is back for the second year and will take over the city of Toronto for five days with live musical performances from acclaimed artists, visual arts exhibitions, a mini film festival, Hip Hop Karaoke, $1500 street dance competition, multidisciplinary workshops, youth initiative pitch contest, the Governor General’s Urban Arts Forum of the Americas, and hundreds of individuals from across the Americas to support artists working to establish peace and solidarity in neighborhoods and communities.

The main event of the festival is a FREE day-long show at Nathan Phillips Square on Sunday, September 21st which includes a legendary headlining set with performances by the Rascalz, k-os, k'naan, Kamau, and more, hosted by Sol Guy. The event also features an emerging artist showcase presented by the Toronto Youth Cabinet, a 70-foot mural wall, workshops, the Freshest Goods Artist Market, an open break-dance floor, and much more!

Event Highlights for the festival include: One City Series, a pre-festival series of individually organized events, which come together under a single umbrella (Sept 11th-17th), the Governor General’s Urban Arts Forum of the Americas at Nathan Phillips Square, Pitch Contest at Nathan Phillips Square with the winning project pitches being awarded a $2000 prize (Wed Sept 17th), Manifesto Film Festival at the Royal Ontario Museum presented in collaboration with the Institute for Contemporary Culture at the ROM.

Hip Hop Karaoke at Revival (Thurs Sept 18th), Us & Them Art Exhibition at Well & Good Gallery (Fri Sept 19th), From Block To Block: Two Simultaneous Block Parties: Live from Scarborough at Scarborough Town Centre Move On Up 2 at Earl Bales Park, Barry Zukerman Amphitheatre (Sat Sept 20th) and The Official After Party at CiRCA including DJ Premier vs. Pete Rock performing together for the first time in Canada and second time in history plus some of the finest and most influential DJs and local performers; including international guests: Black Chiney dancehall kings from Miami and baile funk artist Deize Tigrona from Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. For full details visit www.themanifesto.ca

"It has been an honor to work and learn from such dedicated and influential figures in stamping this year’s festival as a historical moment in Canadian history. All the town hall meetings, focus groups, and conversations have really put this movement into perspective. We are proud to have maintained lasting partnerships and announce new ones moving into our second annual festival with community groups, organizations, and individuals that are committed to spreading our message of solidarity. Despite whatever setbacks this city has faced in the past, I truly believe Toronto is approaching its potential of being crowned one of the leading culture capitals in North America."
~Che Kothari, Executive Director

The first ever Manifesto Festival was in September of 2007 and was a huge success going down as one of the largest and most unique hip hop festivals in Canadian history. The festival brought together over 100 artists and thousands of spectators for four days of art and music, culminating in a massive free outdoor event at Toronto’s civic heart, Nathan Phillips Square, where many of Canada’s revered hip hop pioneers shared the stage with some new blood in a celebration of our nation’s hip hop legacy and future.

Do not miss this years’ festival! Come and be a part of history and witness one of the most talked about events in Toronto! For further information visit www.themanifesto.ca