Here’s an unexpected sponsor of an online jazz festival: the US State Department. On Friday October 26, at 6AM PST, the the U.S. Department of State
Bureau of International Information Programs and the USC Center on Public Diplomacy are co-sponsoring "Virtual Vibe Jazz Fest ’07" at Ilha de Intercambio Island (click here to teleport). Featuring Second Life
musicians include Paisley Beebe (Australia), Jean
Monro (United States), and Ankari Holder (Mexico). There will also be a panel discussion on "Jazz in the 21st
Century: The role jazz plays in promoting American values overseas and how new
technologies like Second Life are helping."
The US State Department joins other US federal government entities the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA), and the US Center for Disease Control in entering Second Life. A jazz festival is a great way for the US government to highlight some of the cultural contributions of America to the world. And it’s great that they are featuring Second Life musicians based in different parts of the world.
Jazz + Second Life + interesting intercultural conversation. Sounds like a killer event!