Bartlett celebrates 10th anniversary of Sister City relationship with Taiwan village on March 5
On March 5, 2010, a proclamation establishing Miaoli City, Taiwan and the Village of Bartlett as Sister Cities was signed at the Miaoli City Hall by Mayor Chiou Bing Quin and Rita Lopienski, president of Arts in Bartlett, representing Village President Michael Kelly. The signing ceremony was followed by Arts in Bartlett's International Chorus and the Midwest Hakka Chorus joining to present five concerts in various cities in Taiwan.
This 2010 proclamation began a 10-year relationship that has resulted in an ongoing cultural exchange and visits to each other's countries. In October 2016, the current village President Kevin Wallace was invited to Taiwan to speak at the World Hakka Conference about the Sister City exchange. He, the Hakka Chorus and Rita Lopienski also met with Mayor Chiou in Miaoli. These visits certainly proved the reputation the Hakka people have for enjoying company and treating guests as family.
To mark the 10th anniversary on the exact date the proclamation was signed - March 5 - the Midwest Hakka Chorus will join the Bartlett High School chorus in performing Hakka songs at the high school's spring concert at 7 p.m. The concert is presented by the Village of Bartlett and cosponsored by the Arts in Bartlett, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago and the Midwest Hakka Association. Bartlett High School is at 701 S. Schick Road in Bartlett. The concert is free and open to the public.
In addition, Arts in Bartlett will present a photography show, "A Retrospective of the Sister City Relationship between Miaoli City and the Village of Bartlett" during March and April in the 2nd Floor Bartlett Village Hall Gallery. Ten years of activities will be documented by photos. A reception will be at 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 7. Free and open to the public. The gallery is at 228 S. Main and is open whenever Village Hall is open.
The Hakka people in Taiwan migrated largely from China's southern and northern Guangdong province around the end of Ming Dynasty and the beginning of Qing Dynasty( CA. 1644). The Hakka people are noted for their honesty, generosity, endurance, and bravery in exploring new lands. Six Hakka families from Taiwan currently live in Bartlett.
Arts in Bartlett is an all-volunteer 501(c)3 arts council formed in 2002. Its Arts Center at 215 S. Main, contains a gallery of local artists works, art and music lessons, and a community room.
Contact 630 372 4152; artsinbartlett@sbcglobal.net for more information.