The Vancouver Art Gallery Celebrating Black Futures Month

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The Vancouver Art Gallery Celebrating Black Futures Month

The Vancouver Art Gallery Celebrating Black Futures Month

January 29, 2024, VANCOUVER, BC // Traditional Coast Salish Lands including the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

This February, the Vancouver Art Gallery is proud to present Celebrating Black Futures, a month-long program focusing on the intersection of art, film and poetry. This bespoke line-up, brought together in honour of Black History Month, celebrates the exciting new wave of Black art and cinema from Vancouver and around the world.

The Gallery has partnered with the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) to present four film screenings that speak to the future of Black and African cinema. All films in the Celebrating Black Futures series have been selected by Kika Memeh, Public Programs Assistant at the Vancouver Art Gallery, and Tom Charity, VIFF Centre Year-Round Programmer, in collaboration with Stephanie Bokenfohr, Adult Public Programs Coordinator at the Gallery. The program presents a contemporary snapshot of the multilateral nature of African, African American, Caribbean and Black Canadian culture and cinema. The series launches on Thursday, February 8, with a special evening of live jazz, performed by the Feven Kidane Sextet at VIFF Centre, followed by a screening of Sam Pollard and Ben Shapiro’s Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes (2023), a documentary which delves into the American jazz legend’s creative peaks, personal struggles and inspiring commitment to Civil Rights. Attendees at the series launch event will also be given free admission tickets to the Gallery.

strong>“We are thrilled to be presenting such a vibrant program in partnership with the Vancouver International Film Festival,” said Anthony Kiendl, CEO & Executive Director at the Vancouver Art Gallery. “We see these events as an opportunity for our institution to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Black communities, to acknowledge Black histories and truths, and to find and encourage new ways of listening to Black voices. By doing so, we can help to create a more inclusive future for all.”

In addition to the film lineup, the Gallery’s first-ever Poet in Residence Jillian Christmas will mark her residency with a much-anticipated Day of Delight at the Gallery. On Friday, February 16, the building will be brought to life through thoughtful conversations, workshops, flower crown-making and a poetic tour of the exhibition Denyse Thomasos: just beyond. There will also be opportunity for families to celebrate Black History Month on Monday, February 19 at Family Day at the Gallery. Admission to the Gallery will include painting workshops, exhibition tours, poetry readings with I Dream Library, paper flower making and Jillian Christmas’ reading of her children’s book The Magic Shell.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Celebrating Black Futures Film Screenings
Presented in partnership with the Vancouver International Film Festival

Celebrating Black Futures Opening Night Event featuring live jazz from the Feven Kidane Sextet and the screening of Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes

Thursday, February 8, 6:30 p.m | VIFF Centre

Tickets can be booked online at vanartgallery.bc.ca/events/celebrating-black-futures-feb-8

Film Screening: All the Colours of the World Are Between Black and White

Thursday, February 15, 6:30 p.m | VIFF Centre

Tickets can be booked online at vanartgallery.bc.ca/events/celebrating-black-futures-feb-15

Short Film Showcase

Thursday, February 22, 7 p.m & 8:15 p.m | VIFF Centre

Tickets can be booked online at vanartgallery.bc.ca/events/celebrating-black-futures-feb-22

Film Screening: When Morning Comes