About Mel D. Cole NYC based, Syracuse NY raised, self taught award winning photographer; Mel D Cole is one of the world’s most accomplished and celebrated photographers with a career spanning 20 years. Mel specializes in music; specifically hip hop, sports, nightlife, travel, and street documentary, brand and most recently photojournalism. He released his first...
Join the August Wilson African American Center and Hazelwood Local on RIDC’s Mill 19 South Porch for a FREE day celebrating the Arts. AWCommunity Day is a family-friendly event that features local vendors, artisans, performers, bites & sips, and community camaraderie. Come join us in this unique space to enjoy live music, theater, art, and...
The August Wilson African American Cultural Center is proud to present its last Hip-Hop camp sessions with Hip-Hop Camp: My Name My Place Street Art and Graffiti Workshop. These sessions will be led by educator, DS Kinsel. The purpose of this camp will be to educate students on the history and significance of graffiti art...
The August Wilson African American Cultural Center is happy to bring back Hip-Hop Camp: DJ Edition with educator, Keygen Bryant (DJ KB). Please note that this camp entails three sessions; with a final performance on December 17, 2022 at our Holiday Community Day. All sessions will be virtual with the final performance in-person. The purpose...
Intermission: The Artful Happy Hour Series Drink. Dine. Dance. Decompress. Take an “intermission” from work and join the party Third Thursday of every month: 6-9pm Live music, Guest DJs, Crafted Cocktails and Complimentary Spirit Tastings, and Heavy Hors D’oeuvres prepared by Visiting Chefs. Tour the galleries, Chill on the patio…Simply BE at AWAACC. 21 and...
According to the gospel of hip-hop dance artist Rennie Harris, “movement is how we worship life.” In his latest work, RENNIE HARRIS LIFTED! A GOSPEL HOUSE MUSICAL, spirituality and movement traditions intertwine. Inspired by the tale of Oliver Twist, this story of a young Black man’s healing and redemption through community is told through live...
The August Wilson African American Cultural Center is proud to present its last Hip-Hop camp sessions with Hip-Hop Camp: My Name My Place Street Art and Graffiti Workshop. These sessions will be led by educator, DS Kinsel. The purpose of this camp will be to educate students on the history and significance of graffiti art...
OPTICVOICES: Mama’s Boys is an interactive, mixed-media exhibit that orbits the healing of mothers who have lost their sons due to systemic violence and aims to fossilize their legacy. The vessel of cinematic and provocative storytelling is captured through the galvanizing lens of Emmy Award-winning, multidisciplinary artist, Emmai Alaquiva. The kindred journeys of mothers around...
OPTICVOICES: Mama’s Boys is an interactive, mixed-media exhibit that orbits the healing of mothers who have lost their sons due to systemic violence and aims to fossilize their legacy. The vessel of cinematic and provocative storytelling is captured through the galvanizing lens of Emmy Award-winning, multidisciplinary artist, Emmai Alaquiva. The kindred journeys of mothers around...
This Storytime Spotlight will feature the book, Hey Brown Girl, by Lisa Joy Stevens. Storytime Spotlight is an educational series presented by the August Wilson African American Cultural Center that introduces young children to books that features stories, songs, rhymes, and fingerplays. This series highlights Black and Brown children’s book authors and will feature conversations...
The August Wilson African American Cultural Center is pleased to welcome four-time Grammy Award winner Angélique Kidjo for our intimate concert series, Soul Sessions. She is one of the greatest artists in international music today, a creative force with fourteen albums to her name. Time Magazine has called her "Africa's premier diva”, and named her...
About Emmai Alaquiva Emmai Alaquiva, is a 4-Time Emmy Award-winning film director, photographer, and composer. Once homeless, Alaquiva is now the CEO of Ya Momz House, Inc., co-founder of Hip-Hop On L.O.C.K. and curator of OpticVoices. Alaquiva has been nationally honored as Black Enterprise Magazine’s “Top 100 Modern Men of Distinction”, appointed by Gov. Tom...
The August Wilson African American Cultural Center is happy to bring back Hip-Hop Camp: DJ Edition with educator, Keygen Bryant (DJ KB). Please note that this camp entails three sessions; with a final performance on December 17, 2022 at our Holiday Community Day. All sessions will be virtual with the final performance in-person. The purpose...
“Roger Guenveur Smith gets it all. And gets it brilliantly.” —New York Times Roger Guenveur Smith returns to the August Wilson Cultural Center with his signature solo performance of FREDERICK DOUGLASS NOW. The pioneering abolitionist and feminist illuminates our present moment through Smith’s 21st Century take on Douglass’ crucial 19th Century speeches, letters, and editorials....