April 16, 2021
Musicians in ‘Small Island Big Song’ film highlight climate challenges in free stream April 23–30
![A man wearing a coastal headdress looks off into the distance.](https://arts.psu.edu/assets/uploads/news/_860xAUTO_fit_center-center_80_none/SIBS-01_Fotor.jpg)
Today’s popular music tells us, this is how the world is. It is not, it does not connect us, it doesn’t conserve our place.” — Charles Maimarosia, musician-archivistThe live touring production of “Small Island Big Song,” including an artist residency, is scheduled for the center’s spring 2022 season.
Related Earth Day engagement event
The Center for the Performing Arts and Penn State’s Sustainability Institute will partner to host two of the artists featured in “Small Island Big Song: An Oceanic Songline” in an Earth Day panel discussion at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 22. The free public event will be available via the Zoom conferencing app and will be followed by an open Q&A and short performances by the artists. Visit panel discussion to register and for more information. Spoken-word artist Selina Leem, of the Marshall Islands, and musician-archivist Charles Maimarosia, of the Solomon Islands, will discuss ocean conservation, environmental justice and the consequences of climate change, and the role the arts can play in creating change. Maimarosia is the frontman of pan-pipe band Narasirato. The indigenous music group formed by fishermen and farmers has found success with well-received performances at music festivals worldwide, including Roskilde Festival, Fuji Rock and Glastonbury. “Today’s popular music tells us, this is how the world is. It is not, it does not connect us, it doesn’t conserve our place,” Maimarosia said. Geisinger and Northwest provide support for virtual presentations by the Center for the Performing Arts. Find the Center for the Performing Arts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.![A man wearing a coastal headdress looks off into the distance.](https://arts.psu.edu/assets/uploads/news/_680xAUTO_fit_center-center_80_none/SIBS-01_Fotor.jpg)
![A woman wears a hat and holds a drum as she sits amid trees.](https://arts.psu.edu/assets/uploads/news/_680xAUTO_fit_center-center_80_none/SIBS-03_Fotor.jpg)
Unit Research:
A&A Sustainability
Unit Outreach:
Center for the Performing Arts
Architecture Clusters:
Sustainability (SUS)