Black Arts Month Celebrates The Work And Contributions Of Black Artists In Chicago
Black Arts Month Celebrates The Work And Contributions Of Black Artists In Chicago
By Tia Carol Jones
The Black Arts & Culture Alliance of Chicago (BACA) is gearing up for Black Arts Month, which will take place in October. The goal of Black Arts Month is to center Black artists in Chicago and their contributions to the arts and cultural sector in the city and all over the world.
The mission of the Black Arts & Culture Alliance of Chicago is to advance excellence in the works of the Black arts and culture sector. Vershawn Sanders-Ward is the President of the Black Arts & Culture Alliance of Chicago. Sanders-Ward is the Founding Artistic Director and CEO of Red Clay Dance Company.
“Since my arrival to Chicago, Vershawn has been someone I’ve deeply admired. Frankly her work through the community and in the arts is one of the reasons I came to the city, and she shaped much of my leadership style,” Charlique C. Rolle, the Alliance’s outgoing president, said in a release. “Having had the privilege to walk and work alongside Vershawn has only further solidified this, and I am certain that I am not alone in this sentiment. We are so lucky and honored to have Vershawn as the next president of the Black Arts & Culture Alliance of Chicago—leading, supporting, and advocating for Chicago artists!”
The Black Arts & Culture Alliance of Chicago began celebrating Black Arts Month last year, adding convenings in three parts of the city on Mondays. The first will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7th, at the Black Ensemble Theater, located at 4450 N. Clark St. The West side convening will take place Oct. 14th, at Muse Coffee Studio, located at 747 S. Western Ave. and the South Side convening will take place Oct. 21st at Red Clay Dance Center, located at 808 E. 63rd St. Sanders-Ward said the convenings are a way to bring the art community together.
“We thought about this last year, coming out of COVID and trying to re-engage our art community with BACA … We wanted to continue this year with the idea of convening and celebrating artists,” she said.
Black Arts Month will close on Monday, Oct. 28th, the 24th Annual Black Excellence Awards will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Chicago Cultural Center. Before the event, the second Chicago Black Arts Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place at 5 p.m.
Sanders-Ward said it is important that Black artists create space to celebrate themselves and the contributions they make in arts -- dance, poetry, literature, film, music and digital arts. The hope is that with Black Arts Month, Black artists can create space where their stories are centered and celebrated.
“We need to continue to support Black artists so they can stay connected to Chicago and feel their work is being valued,” she said.
Sanders-Ward said Black Arts Month is a way to celebrate the contributions of Black artists past and present, while looking toward the future to ensure that there is a place for Black artists in Chicago to feel they can come and have a career. It is her hope that with the convenings, people can connect, fellowship and find resources. The convenings will also be a place for salons where artists can showcase their work and share their wants with BACA.
Sanders-Ward hopes the artists feel celebrated and seen, and that people who love and support the arts are reminded of the beauty, diversity and vastness of Black art and Black artists in Chicago. She also hopes the support for Black artists continues beyond Black Arts Month.
“This is a month that we have selected to really highlight that, but we want the effects to be long-term. So, find a new artist you weren’t aware of, and become a supporter of their work,” she said. She added that BACA wants to increase their membership and invite more artists into the organization.
For more information about the Black Arts & Culture Alliance of Chicago, visit www.bacachi.org.
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