Downtown ‘O Positive’ Festival Promises Exchange of Art and Wellness

City Councilor Andy Vargas.

City Councilor Andy X. Vargas invited Hailey Moschella to speak about the O+ Festival that will occur in Haverhill on May 6.

Art and medicine will come together in Haverhill on May 6 in the city’s first O+ (O Positive) Festival.

Born in Kingston, N.Y., the O+ Festival was created to give artists and musicians the opportunity to exchange their talents for health and dental care.

Hailey Moschella will introduce the O+ festival’s mission and background in a presentation to the Haverhill City Council during its regular meeting Tuesday beginning at 7 p.m. in the Theodore A. Pelosi Jr. Council Chambers on the second floor at City Hall. City Councilor Andy X. Vargas invited Moschella to speak.

The Haverhill Cultural Council granted $3,000 to Moschella and the O+ Festival organizing committee. Local health care providers will staff a Pop-Up Clinic to provide services to the artists and musicians who will paint and perform on festival day.

Organizers are looking for a volunteer clinic coordinator to pull the healthcare services half of the festival together. The clinic will take place at the Phoenix Rising Spiritual Center on Merrimack Street. People with healing gifts of all types, including doctors, dentists, chiropractors and acupuncturists are welcome to apply.

In addition to the clinic, there will be a portion of the festival open to participants and attendees to take classes at various downtown locations. At other festivals, classes have included yoga, pilates, martial arts and sound healing. Local instructors can donate a class to the community in exchange for live music and art.

As part of the festival, a portion of the AIDS Quilt will be on display.

 

 

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