August Wilson: The Writer’s Landscape: The first-ever exhibition dedicated to the life and works of August Wilson is now open! Learn More

News & Stories

2026

Oct 08

2026: New light installation revealed at August Wilson Center

Rainbow Serpent unveiled their new light installation at the August Wilson Center in Downtown Pittsburgh.

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Sep 29

Pittsburgh’s Jazz Heritage on Display as International Festival Wraps Up

Pittsburgh International Airport’s week of jazz performances, returned for its third year of programming from Monday, Sept. 14, through Thursday, Sept. 17. The week of performances has become an opening…

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Sep 29

Pittsburgh International Jazz Fest Celebrates Black American Culture

Reinforcing modern jazz’s interaction with other genres associated with Black American music remains a hallmark of the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival (PIJF), under the artistic direction of founder, Janis Burley….

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Sep 17

Two-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Eric Roberson to perform two days at the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival

Two-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and producer Eric Roberson is a big part of the 16th Pittsburgh international Jazz Festival (9/17-9/20). Roberson, a New Jersey native and known of the…

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Sep 17

New light installation adorns Pittsburgh’s August Wilson Center

Bars of colored lights now trace the outlines and suggest the levels of the distinctive, sail-like façade of Pittsburgh’s August Wilson African American Cultural Center. The new work, titled “Give…

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Sep 14

August Wilson African American Cultural Center and Rainbow Serpent to Unveil Give Light to the Whole Circumference at “Lights ON Liberty” event in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District on September 17

Designed by Rainbow Serpent, Phase I of the new permanent public art installation will debut during a special event, Lights ON Liberty! and mark the first phase of a two-part…

Sep 10

For 16 years, she’s brought the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival to life

Every September, the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival brings music to the city’s streets, and for 16 years, Janis Burley has been the driving force behind this celebration. Burley is the…

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Sep 08

From Jersey Club Dance Floors to the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival: Eric Roberson on House Music, Liberation, and Process

Growing up in Rahway, New Jersey, Roberson’s artistic identity was shaped in church choir rehearsals, cafeteria hip-hop ciphers, and the sweat-slicked dance floors of house music hubs in Newark and…

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Sep 03

Gallery Closure Notice: Sept. 3–6 & Sept. 10–13

Gallery Closure Notice: In preparation for the 16th Edition of the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival, the galleries and Black Cameo Boutique and Museum Shop at the August Wilson African American…

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Aug 06

Dance instructor and choreographer teaches Heather some moves

Here’s more about the August Wilson African American Cultural Center’s dance camp in Pittsburgh.

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Jul 28

Gallery Closure Notice: August 1 — August 2

The galleries at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center will be closed to the public on Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2, 2026, in preparation for an upcoming…

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Jul 24

2nd Annual Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival Poster Competition

The Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival is pleased to invite artists to compete in our 2nd annual poster competition – made possible with support from Duolingo. This competition serves as a…

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Jul 22

Memory, Lineage, and the Table We Share: Why Pittsburgh’s Jazz Festival Matters for The Culture

When playwright August Wilson documented Black life, he anchored his work in the belief that history, humor, struggle, and imagination are best understood through the everyday cadences and lived experiences…

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Jul 21

Thaddeus Mosley remembered as an artist, and so much more

Pittsburgh mourned the loss of an influential local artist this year with the passing of Thaddeus Mosley. The renowned sculptor, who died on March 6, less than five months before…

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Jul 21

Pittsburgh to Celebrate Sculptor Thaddeus G. Mosley’s 100th Birthday with Weekend of Jazz, Art, and Community

A Three-day centennial commemoration in honor of Thaddeus G. Mosley will feature a jazz tribute concert, a symposium at Carnegie Museum of Art, and a processional through Mosley’s sculptures presented…

Jul 20

The 16th Annual Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival Co-presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Presents AN EVENING WITH SAMARA JOY

Friday, September 18, 8:00 pm at The August Wilson African American Cultural Center TICKETS Go on Sale Monday, July 27, 10:00 am The Celebration Continues at 9:00 pm with the…

Jul 06

Let’s Honor Our Stories, Past, Present and Future.

The country is commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, and the stories and legacy of our family contributions and sacrifices must…

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Jul 01

Story Time Spotlight with Youth Writers Camp Educators Carla Knight & Dionna Spencer

Behind every confident young writer is someone who first encouraged them to put pen to paper. In this special Storytime Spotlight, the August Wilson African American Cultural Center shines a…

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Jun 30

Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival Co-presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Presents the Second Annual POSTER COMPETITION Made Possible with Support from Duolingo

Student and Professional Artists Compete for the Opportunity To Win a Monetary Prize and Have Their Poster Sold at the Festival  Submission Form PITTSBURGH, PA, June 30, 2026 – The…

Jun 25

The House That August Built

The building rises in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District like a vessel caught mid-voyage: glass, stone, steel, and sail. It is elegant but not neutral. The August Wilson African American Cultural Center…

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Jun 25

August Wilson Center’s Pride and Joy celebrates Black queer creativity

Rian-Louis McNeil, the host of Pride and Joy at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, knows that Black, LGBTQ+ artists don’t stop existing when Pride Month ends. He wants…

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Jun 05

Gallery Closure Notice

Gallery Closure Notice: AWAACC galleries will be closed to the public Thursday, June 11 through Saturday, June 13, 2026, for a private event. Regular gallery hours will resume Sunday, June…

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Jun 05

ENVISIONING A JUST PITTSBURGH – 2026 CALL FOR ART

Now in its fourth year, this year’s Call for Art asks regional artists to consider the theme “Home”: How can Pittsburgh be a just and equitable home for all? The…

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Jun 03

Dates Announced for the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival

The 16th annual Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival, presented by the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, will take place Sept. 17-20. It will feature free performances, a beer garden and…

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Jun 02

The 16th Annual Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival Co-Presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Honors Our America250, September 17-20, 2026

Featuring Lalah Hathaway, Terri Lyne Carrington, Bernard “Pretty” Purdie & Friends, Eric Roberson, Roger Humphries, Nate Smith, Sean Jones, Orrin Evans’ Monk Tribute, Lady Blackbird, Annie & The Caldwells, The…