Online arts festival celebrates Black history and culture in Vancouver
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A free online arts festival celebrating Black artists is happening in Vancouver this month.
In celebration of Black History Month, the Ensemble Theatre Company is presenting Us: A Black Peoples Month Festival curated by Black artists Adrian Neblett and Mariam Barry.
The theme of the festival is belonging.
“We are also hoping that this will serve as a model, going forward, for us to celebrate and showcase the works of BIPOC artists,” Neblett told Daily Hive in an interview.
“We wanted to curate a collection of pieces that spoke to the breadth of the Black experience — it’s not one thing. I often say Blackness is a galaxy because being Black looks so different around the world,” explained Barry.
“But one thing is for sure: we are so much more than what the white gaze tells us. I hope this festival reminds Black folks everywhere that we belong. That their Blackness is enough and their Blackness is beautiful. In this circle, we’re all welcome.”
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Us: A Black Peoples Month Festival will also feature local artists Omari Newton, Colleen Wheeler, DJ Softieshan, and Chris Francisque.
The festival includes free access for all, and it features theatre, films, podcasts and staged readings. It is the first festival that Ensemble has put on in celebration of Black History Month, a tradition that organizers say will continue beyond 2021.
Us – A Black Peoples Month Festival
When: January 28 to February 25, 2021, new releases on Thursdays
Where: Online via Ensemble Theatre
Tickets: Free to access through individual show pages, no tickets needed. Donations are optional
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