The sixth annual Chattanooga Festival of Black Arts & Ideas will kick off its Juneteenth Celebration on June 3 with a fundraiser — the second annual Red, Black & Green Ball & Black Arts Awards.
The black-tie affair will honor local artists in visual arts, dance, music, literary arts, film and theater, and the program will include the introduction of three historical African princes who will be available for public appearances, birthday parties and school visits throughout the year. Three historical African princesses — Warrior Princess Amina, Elizabeth of Toro and Princess Taytu Betul — were introduced at the 2022 event, and this year their male counterparts — Pharaoh Alara, Shaka Zulu and Mansa Musa — will be introduced.
The meal will again be curated and prepared by celebrity chef Kenyatta Ashford of Neutral Ground. Ashford studied at the renowned Culinary Institute of America in New York.
The Chattanooga Festival of Black Arts & Ideas: Juneteenth Independence Day will run June 1-19. Events and activities will take place in varying locations throughout Chattanooga. The idea is to grow the festival each year by including local artists, speakers and workshop leaders, while adding more regional, national and internationally recognized artists.
It is centered around June 19 because that is the date for Juneteenth, a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. It takes its name from combining "June" and "nineteenth," and is it is celebrated on the anniversary of General Order No. 3, issued by Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865, proclaiming freedom for slaves in Texas, nearly two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
The festival uses the arts to delight, instruct, console, awaken and refine. The event's mission is "to showcase emerging and established local artists of African descent who are creating, innovating and producing extraordinary work in the disciplines of music, dance, theater, visual arts, film and literature," according to a release.
2023 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
June 1 — Elizabeth Catlett Exhibitions: "Y'all Don't Hear Me" opening reception
Location: Stove Works, 1250 E. 13th St.
Price: Free, donations
June 3 — Second annual Red, Black & Green Ball & Black Arts Awards
Location: Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St.
Price: $60 – Only 101 admissions will be sold for the ball in honor of the 101 anniversary of Black Wall Street Massacre. Admission to the Black Arts Awards may be purchased separately for $20.
June 8 – Elizabeth Catlett Exhibitions: Featured Artist Exhibition Opening Reception
Black Women in Visual Arts
Location: Association of Visual Arts, 30 Frazier Ave.
Price: Free
June 9 — Opening night of August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson"
Location: Chattanooga Theatre Centre Circle Theatre, 400 River St.
Price: $25
June 11 – August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson" lecture
Location: Chattanooga Theatre Centre Circle Theatre, 400 River St.
Price: $25 – CTC Box Office / TheatreCenter.com
June 15 — Black In Appalachia presentation/lecture
Location: Stove Works, 1250 E. 13th St.
Price: Free, donations
June 16 – Juba Dance Ensemble performance and discussion
Location: Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St.
Price: $25, children under 10 Free
June 17 – 2nd annual Juneteenth Freedom Run & Walk
Time: 8 a.m. half marathon run – 9 a.m. walk
Location: Hubert Fry Center - 4301 Amnicola Highway
Register: BlackArtsAndIdeasFest.com
June 17 — Katherine Dunham Juba Dance Festival Workshops
Location: Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St.
June 17 – D. Williams Dance Academy recital
Location: Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St.
June 17 – Scratching Your Roots Black Genealogy Society Open House & New Member Recruitment
Location: The Chattanooga Public Library, 1001 Broad St.
Price: Free
June 17 – Legacy Music Festival, featuring jazz guitarist Eric Essix
Location: Miller Park, 910 Market St.
June 18 – Fourth annual Black Dads Matter Father's Day gospel/jazz brunch
Location: Waterhouse Pavilion in Miller Park, 850 Market St.
Price: $45
June 19 — Juneteenth commemoration ceremony & concert Oscar Michaux Black Film Festival
Location: The Walker Theater inside the Memorial Auditorium
Price: Free
June 1-19 – Princesses & Prince Project
Time: They will make appearances throughout the festival.
Location: Various locations
Vist BlackArtsAndIdeasFest.com for more information.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.