MAYWORKS FESTIVAL OF LABOUR AND THE ARTS
WANTS YOU TO “CHANGE THE WORLD”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 18, 2012

WINNIPEG: Amidst announcements of new federal and provincial budgets, job cuts, and increasing costs of living, the MayWorks Festival of Labour and the Arts joins festivals across the country to honour working class culture through song, dance, film, and stories. The 2012 festival theme, “Change the World”, invites the community to be the change they want to see by participating in a medley of events, taking place from April 27- June 2. Unionized and non-unionized workers, co-ops, and artists will gather in solidarity to honour the struggles for the rights and freedoms of working people.

MayWorks “Change the World” presents local artists from all disciplines that not only interpret and preserve the history of social movements, but lead and inspire social change. Events are presented by host organizations at venues throughout the city, launching on April 27 with a youth-led march hosted by SAFE Workers of Tomorrow. The march honours the National Day of Mourning for workers killed or injured on the job. The annual May Day March on May 1, organized by the Winnipeg Labour Council in recognition of International Working Class Day, comes as the drive for austerity takes its toll on social programs, workers livelihoods, and pensions. Also on May 1, co-operatively owned Mondragon Bookstore and Coffeehouse hosts a live videofeed talk with activist Noam Chomsky. Woody Guthrie’s 100th Birthday Party is the festival highlight on May 17. Presented by MayWorks and the West End Cultural Centre, the songs and stories by the working class hero will be performed by Winnipeg’s brilliant folk music artists The Magnificent Sevens, Sweet Alibi, Nathan Rogers, JD Edwards and Leonard Podolak.

Change the world with MayWorks at various cultural events including plays by Bruce Sarbit, Dale Lakevold, a tour led by Danny Schur highlighting events from the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike, poetry readings, a May Day Banquet, documentary film screenings, and the Festival of Mandolins at the Ukrainian Labour Temple. These events and more comprise an exciting festival showcase of working class culture in Winnipeg.

MayWorks Festival of Labour and the Arts is a multi-disciplinary festival that focuses on working class themes. It is held in Winnipeg every year to honour and promote the many positive contributions of unions and working people. Full festival details at www.mayworks.org.

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Media Contact:
Nat Felicitas | 998-4748 | mayworksmedia@gmail.com