SF Bay Brazilian Day & Lavagem 2022

KEEP LAVAGEM FREE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL

Want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money to benefit Brasarte, the Damasceno Brazilian Cultural Exchange; any donation will help create an impact. Thanks in advance for contributing to this cause which means so much to me.

As the cost of producing our biggest event of the year rises and the importance of accessible programming does, we are asking our community members to support this cause!

SF Bay Brazilian Day & Lavagem is a free festival created by our late founder and artistic director Conceição Damasceno to celebrate the diversity and beauty of Brazilian Arts Culture in an inclusive environment. This year we honor Conceição, and her legacy of dedication to Brazilian lives and expressions here in the Bay Area, through this fantastic event that the BrasArte community and beyond look forward to every Labor Day weekend.

Rising Costs: Why We Need Your Help

The cost of festival infrastructure (safe stages, fencing, bathrooms, etc.) has almost doubled since last year.

Our festival site was in escrow until mid-summer, so we were uncertain if we would receive permission to use the space. Now that the festival is ON, it is too late to organize or secure any financial sponsorship on short notice.

We have permission to use the indoor space again! Last year we only operated the outdoor stage due to Covid concerns, but now that we can bring back the indoor jazz stage, there are increased costs for artists, staff and equipment to give our community more quality programming.

This year we were awarded $5,800 from the City of Berkeley through their festival grant program versus $10,500 last year for comparison. This makes a huge difference in a festival with a $25,000-$30,000 budget.

2022 is a particular year for us as we lost our founder & director, Conceicão Damasceno. This festival was her baby, and we want to ensure it is up to her (very high, haha) standards as we honor her memory.

Please consider donating to make this event a beautiful reality for our Artists and Community members, Asè!