Greetings!

Thank you for your interest in The Merasi's Hearts with Hope 2 Tour! The Merasi are a community of impoverished, marginalized lower caste musicians who live in Rajasthan, a sprawling desert state in northwestern India. They descend from a 37-generation-old musical legacy that is on the verge of extinction due to India's rapid modernization. The Hearts with Hope 2 Tour is sponsored by Folk Arts Rajasthan, a US nonprofit, that is dedicated to empowering the Merasi community through educational initiatives, fair trade projects, and cultural exchange programs, such as this tour. Our objective with the tour is to spread awareness about this vital musical legacy, the precarious reality of the artists who safeguard it and, ultimately, raise hope for a more expansive future.

We've got a full spring ahead of us! Be sure to check out our schedule (on the right) to find out when we're coming to a stage, school, or gallery near you. We certainly hope you can join us in the coming months!

With Big Heart and High Hope,

Karen Lukas & Caitie Whelan, Tour Maestros 

Karen Lukas, Founder/Director, Folk Arts Rajasthan

Caitie Whelan, Educational Director, Folk Arts Rajasthan Founder/Director, The Merasi School, the educational branch of Folk Arts Rajasthan 

SUPPORT THE MERASI!

Make a secure online tax deductible contribution today to Folk Arts Rajasthan, Inc. (a 501(c)3 nonprofit) to support our fierce commitment to cultural preservation and social empowerment!

 Beat (or click) the drum to support the Merasi today!

Please note that Network for Good, our online giving provider, deducts  4.75% of your gift as a service charge. 

From all of us here at Folk Arts Rajasthan, thank you for your support and enthusiasm! 

Tour Highlights! 

The Merasi have left the building:Click here to read our latest Newsletter!

The Kennedy Center Performance:
Click here for the Kennedy Center's archived website of the Merasi's April 29th, 2008 performance on the Millennium Stage!

        TOUR SCHEDULE!

Click here to see an excellent film about our work produced by Folk Arts Rajasthan!

Friday, March 14~7:30pm, Joe's Pub at The Public Theater,                             New York, NY (Click here for ticket info)

Saturday, March 15~8:00pm, Kleinert/James Arts Center at                               Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild, Woodstock, NY                             (Click here for ticket info)

Sunday, March 16~11:00am, Kleinert/James Arts Center at                             Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild, Woodstock, NY
                            (Click here for ticket info) 

Sunday, March 23~4:00pm, Lowe Lecture Hall at the                                    Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT                                   FREE! Contact Pat Parsons to reserve space!                           802-658-5123/patp5@comcast.net                                       (Click here for directions!)      

Sunday, March 30~7:30pm, Westtown Friends School                                     Theater, Westtown, PA                                                        Limited space available!                                                       (Click here for directions)

Friday, April 4~6:00pm, John Gurrin Opening, HiArt! Gallery                                      New York, NY                                                                    (Click here for event info)

Sunday, April 6~3:00pm Concert at Jeanette Stoner Studio                           New York, NY                                                                      (Click here for event info)

Thursday, April 10~4:30pm, Troy Dance Center,                                                Lang Performing Arts Center (LPAC),                                    Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA
                               (Click here for event info!)

Saturday, April 12~Second Saturday Event, Media, PA                                         FREE SHOW!                                                                     (Click here for event info!)

Thursday, April 24~6pm, American Visionary Arts Museum,                                Baltimore, MD                                                                    (Click here for event info)

Monday, April 28~7:30pm, Brown Center at Maryland                                         Institute College of Art (MICA)                                              Baltimore, MD                                                                     FREE SHOW!                                                                       (Click here for directions)                                              
Tuesday, April 29~6pm, The Millennium Stage at The                                        Kennedy Center, Washington, DC                                          FREE SHOW!                                                                       Click here for event info and to                                            watch the live internet broadcast!              
Friday, May 2nd~6pm, Salomon Center, Brown University,                                Providence, RI    FREE SHOW!                                            Email pamela@merasischool.org for tickets!

Saturday, May 3rd~2pm, Portland Museum of Art, Portland,                              ME (Click here for ticket info!)

Sunday, May 4th~3pm, The Carpenter's Boatshop                                                Pemaquid, ME   FREE SHOW!           

Monday, May 5th~7:30pm, Waterman Community Center                                              North Haven, ME                                                                Check back for ticket info!

Wednesday, May 7th~8pm, Freeport High School                                                 Performance Center, Freeport, ME                                         Check back for ticket info!

Friday, May 9th~7:30pm, Camden Opera House                                                        Camden, ME                                                                        (Click here for ticket info!)

Sunday, May 11th~Maine College of Art (MECA) Graduation                                        Merrill Auditorium, Portland, ME                                            Check back for event details! 

Wednesday, May 14th~Week-long collaboration with John                                         Lennon Educational Tour Bus, New                                         York, NY                                                                           Check back for event info!

Saturday, May 17th~7pm, One Ocean Yoga Concert                                                264 Butter Lane, Bridgehampton, NY                                      Click here to buy tickets! 

Sunday, May 18th~11am, Sacred Songs at Trinity Sunday                                    Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine                                  Click here for directions!

Thursday, May 22nd~7:30pm, Joe's Pub at The Public                                         Theater, New York, NY                                                         (Click here for ticket info!)

Saturday, May 24th~7:00pm Wheaton Arts & Cultural Center
                                            Millville, NJ                                                                           (Click here for ticket info!)