Connect Beyond Festival returns to downtown Asheville, N.C. on April 22-23, 2022 for a weekend of performances, panels, film screenings and workshops exploring how the intersection of music, art, film and storytelling can inspire positive change. This year’s festival, dubbed by Ashvegas as “Asheville’s version of SXSW”, will feature the Storytelling For Impact multidisciplinary curated with Sundance Collab, Sundance Institute’s official digital, global community for artists.
The packed lineup features headliners Megan Twohey, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter for The New York Times and co-author of the bestselling book SHE SAID: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement, and Propaganda, poet, activist, author of Terraform: Building a Better World, and creator and host of the Hood Politics with Prop podcast. More artists will be announced in the coming weeks.
Tickets for the Connect Beyond Festival are on sale now here.
Featured Phase 1 Connect Beyond Festival artists include:
- Albert Berger – Academy Award-nominated producer
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Lonnie Holly – Critically acclaimed visual artist and musician
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Gillian Laub – Photojournalist and 2019 NYSCA/NYFA Photography Fellow
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Dr. Natalie Hopkinson – Author and Howard University professor of Communications, Culture and Media Studies
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Marcus Dowling – Award-winning journalist and musician
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Shana Tucker – Musician, educator and artist in residence at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts in Asheville (2019-2020)
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Johnny Irion – Musician and producer
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Dr. Ben Gilmer – Author of The Other Dr. Gilmer, Two Men, A Murder, And An Unlikely Fight For Justice
Guests will create their own tailored itineraries, choosing from:
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Impactful panels, presentations and music-forward showcases and performances at The Orange Peel, Asheville Art Museum and Wortham Center for the Performing Arts
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A specially curated rotating collection of groundbreaking, culture-shifting films, curated by festival partner Social Construct Films
Lauded as “complete nourishment for the senses” by past attendees, Connect Beyond is perfect for anyone seeking a more dynamic festival experience.
“Think of it as a series of TED Talks meets your favorite podcast meets NPR’s Music’s Tiny Desk concert series meets the Sundance Film Festival,” says Connect Beyond Founder, Jessica Tomasin. “Connect Beyond is so much more than a festival; it’s a tool that uses storytelling as a platform to build an inclusive and supportive community. My hope is that people walk away from the weekend with new connections, new perspectives and new resources to help create the world they want to live in.”
Bob Boilen of NPR’s Tiny Desk Home Concert series and Connect Beyond Festival alum adds, “Connect Beyond Festival is curated with people with different viewpoints on the world. It’s a connecting place and a thoughtful festival.”
EVENT: Connect Beyond Festival 2022
WHEN: April 22-23, 2022
WHERE: The Orange Peel, Wortham Center for Performing Arts, Asheville Art Museum and more
TICKETS: https://venuv.io/v/mailchimp
MORE: ConnectBeyondFestival.com
General Admission ($150) and VIP ($200) festival passes are now on sale at ConnectBeyondFestival.com/tickets. Until March 25, guests can use the code CONNECT at checkout to save up to 20% on tickets. For those unable to attend but still looking to participate, Virtual Passes are available for $125 to digitally attend all panels, workshops and in-person micro-events.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit ConnectBeyondFestival.com. For film inquiries, contact our Film Programmers at [email protected].
Participating Venues
The Orange Peel – website
Wortham Center For The Performing Arts – website
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ABOUT CONNECT BEYOND FESTIVAL
More than just an event, Connect Beyond Festival is a movement that brings together creators from all walks of life and all regions of the world to engage in ways they never have before. With a focus on creative arts, Connect Beyond explores how collaboration creates a narrative that can influence social change. The multi-venue event features three days of cutting-edge music conversations and performances; inspiring speakers; thought-provoking panels; captivating film screenings and insight from documentary filmmakers; plus lasting connections with community members. Tickets are on sale now for the third annual event. Learn more at ConnectBeyondFestival.com.