President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush have agreed to serve as the Honorary Chairs of the 2004 International VSA arts Festival!

Panasonic has joined us as the official sponsor of the Festival's Odyssey Stage, located in Union Station's Great Hall. The Panasonic Odyssey Stage will feature performing artists on June 10, 11, and 12 from 11:30 am -7:45pm.

Delta Air Lines has joined the Festival as the official sponsor of the Festival Volunteer Program. Delta Air Lines, the world's second largest airline in terms of passengers carried and the leading U.S. carrier across the Atlantic, offers 7,318 flights each day to 487 destinations in 82 countries.

WAMU, the leading public radio station for NPR news and information in Washington, D.C., has joined the list of Festival media sponsors. Licensed to American University, the station's 24-hour format blends news, public affairs talk programming, and traditional American music.

The Rasky/Baerlein Group, Inc.--a communications, public relations, and strategic counsel firm--has been added as a Festival sponsor. The group has offices in Boston, MA, and Washington, D.C. and will provide in-kind services to help promote the Festival.

The United Nations in New York City exhibited the artwork of the 12 Festival Fellows, December 3, 2003 – January 15, 2004. Selected by a distinguished jury of art professionals, these international artists are the exemplars of the Festival, acting as catalysts for the understanding of the creative process. Their work forms the core of the Festival.

The Festival will present 79 international groups performing on stages throughout the city.

The National Press Club, the largest and most prestigious press club in the world, will host a Festival exhibit in its Washington, D.C. headquarters in June 2004.

Ronald Reagan National Airport will exhibit select artwork of Festival artists in its 12 baggage claim areas for the month of June 2004. Thousands of travelers passing through this brand new, sun-drenched facility will experience and enjoy the work of the Festival artists!

On Thursday, June 10, VSA arts artists will kick off the annual summer jazz series, “Farragut Sounds in the Square,” at Farragut Square in the heart of Washington, D.C. Festival artists will perform on multiple stages throughout the day in this popular downtown oasis.

Ronan Tynan of the world famous Irish Tenors will perform at the Opening Ceremonies in the Concert Hall of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday, June 9, 2004. Tynan, who was born with a lower limb disability, has astounded audiences in sold-out solo shows and has performed at Yankee Stadium for the World Series and Madison Square Garden for the 9/11 memorial service.