Black Lives Matter Sudbury, in collaboration with Up Here: Urban Arts Festival, will present Culture Matrix Black Arts Festival. Focused on Healing, Kinship and Celebration.
Beginning at noon and running to 2 p.m. on Aug. 13, the all-ages event will be split into sections based on the themes of the event. All daytime activities are held outdoors on Durham Street,
Healing related-programming is up first with a focus on “curating spaces of wellness, healing, and critical dialogue” through restorative activities such as group yoga. A release from Black Lives Matter Sudbury describes the program as “rooted in cultural traditions facilitated by Brooke McLeod and hip hop healing which merges practices of mindfulness with poetry and music facilitated by Jermaine Henry.”
Held until 2 p.m. the healing portion will be located outdoors on Durham street.
Kinship programming will run from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. and will emphasize “joy, care and a sense of belonging through community arts.” The program will be facilitated by Kayode Akande & Raven Debassige from Myths and Mirrors and a dance workshop facilitated by Tonye Iti.
All community members can participate in healing and kinship activities for free and will have access to complimentary coffee, treats, and refreshments.
Starting at 7 p.m. it’s time for Celebration with performances by local Black and Indigenous talent followed by internationally acclaimed performers including Haviah Mighty, Juno-award winning artist and Canadian rapper, Naya Ali, Franco-Canadian rapper, and Prince Manny Dingo, Canadian performer and drag king.
All evening performances will be held at Place des arts, located at 27 Larch. The celebration portion of the programming is ticketed, starting at $10 for Black, Indigenous, and POC Youth (13-25 years old – PRESALE SPECIAL ONLY) and $20 for general admission. Youth 12 and under receive free admission. There will be a small portion of tickets available at the gate as well, cash only.
This event will uplift, center, and privilege Black, Indigenous, and racialized performers, artists, and facilitators, in a way Northern Ontario has never seen before,” reads the release.
Tickets can be purchased by clicking here, or for more information, visit the Black Lives Matter Sudbury website, found here.
