Kids Euro Festival 2015 Returns to Washington DC

Kids Euro Festival the largest children's performing arts festival of its kind in America returns to the Washington metro area October 24 to November 8, with more than 125 free, family-friendly, European-themed cultural events.

Designed for children ages two through twelve and their families, Kids Euro Festival now in its eighth year unites the 28 embassies of the European Union (EU) and more than 20 local and national cultural institutions.

Featuring professional artists performing for children and their families, Kids Euro Festival includes public performances, school performances (at schools and in partner venues), film screenings, and library activities, as well as artist workshops, performances for hospitalized children, a full day of activities for children with special needs, and professional development opportunities for teachers. This unique collaboration between the European Union and the United States transforms the capital region into an action-packed cultural adventure for young people, their families, and their teachers.

"Kids Euro Festival continues to offer children and their families a unique opportunity to experience some of Europe's best performers right here in Washington, D.C.," said David O'Sullivan, Ambassador of the European Union to the United States. "As a joint cultural diplomacy initiative of the European Union embassies in the nation's capital, it is also a wonderful celebration of European cultural diversity. It is my hope that every child and parent that participates in this Festival will have a lasting fond memory of their European cultural experience."

Susan Carmel Lehrman, the Vice-President of the European-American Cultural Foundation (E-ACF), said, "Culture is a powerful force for bringing together people, families, and nations. As the organizer of Kids Euro Festival, the E-ACF knows that the arts are more than just entertainment they are a way to share cultures, create understanding, and unite people from around the world."

Theater, puppets, music, magic, dance, films, stories, and more stimulate creative imaginations and invite artistic exploration. Since it began in 2008, Kids Euro Festival has reached almost 150,000 culturally curious children and their parents, delivering a memorable "trip to Europe without a passport."

Participating in Kids Euro Festival are all the 28 E.U. Embassies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, The Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Partners and venues include the American Film Institute; Alliance Franaise DC; Children's Inn at NIH; DC Arts & Humanities Education Collaborative; DC Public Library System; District of Columbia Public Schools; Dupont Festival; GALA Hispanic Theatre; Harmony Hall/Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission; Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital; Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens; Imagination Stage; KEEN Greater DC; John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; KID Museum at Davis Library; Library of Congress; Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center; National Gallery of Art; Prince George's County Center for Visual and Performing Arts; Shakespeare Theatre Company; Sitar Arts Center; Strathmore; and Washington Performing Arts.

Kids Euro Festival is made possible by the generous support of Susan Carmel Lehrman, the Sachiko Kuno Foundation, TV5 USA, Dr. Gregory A. and JaLynn Prince/Madison House Autism Foundation, Holiday Inn Georgetown, and Washington Parent Magazine, and by the assistance of the European-American Cultural Foundation (E-ACF) in cooperation with the Delegation of the European Union to the United States.

While all of the performances are free, some require reservations, which can be made at the Kids Euro Festival website: www.kidseurofestival.org.

For Production Art:
https://goo.gl/0PvXDG

Facebook: www.facebook.com/KidsEuroFestival
Twitter: @KidsEuroFest

SOURCE Delegation of the European Union to the United States