Albuquerque Wins 2007 SCI Award!

Innovation for Arts and Culture

Albuquerque Sister Cities Foundation won the 2007 Sister Cities International Innovation for Arts and Culture Award for greater than 100,000 population.

In 2006, the city of Albuquerque, NM celebrated the 300th anniversary of its founding. Working directly with the Office of Mayor Martin Chavez, the local Sister Cities program invited representatives from each of its sister cities to a weeklong gala fiesta. The 240 guests from seven sister cities participated in and provided a spectacular cultural exchange. The tricentennial celebration was held during the first week of July, so their guests could participate in and observe the importance of both the local and national July 4th celebrations. Additionally, 136 musicians from six sister cities participated in a World Concert, representing their various cultures. The World Concert drew a crowd of 50,000 to the famed Balloon Fiesta Park.

During the celebration, the city also dedicated its new 3.5 acre Sasebo Japanese Garden.

For a complete description of the event, please download the July 2006 Newsletter (22 MB). Editor Carol Dawley produced the newsletter, including the special 16 page insert covering the weeklong celebration, receptions, tours, hot air balloon rides and World Concert. The Tricentennial Committee was headed by Davis Begay, Ikuko Begay, Dave Bagley, Kay Carrico and Randy LeCocq.