NBAF is manifesting more this year: more impact, more engaging programming, more opportunities for artists, more exposure, and more funding. We are coming for it all in the new year! In celebration of what will be an amazing year, it is my honor to give you a peek into what we have in store as we prepare to do things even bigger and better in 2024.  

Our programming theme for this year is “Artistry Unbound,” an exploration of the resounding power of African American art to propel us toward the realization of our collective freedom. This theme celebrates the profound contributions of African American artists in their relentless pursuit of social justice, equality, and financial equity. It celebrates the trailblazers who have paved the way for a new generation of artists, continuing the legacy of social commentary and artistic innovation. This theme calls us to be “black on purpose” and create programs that directly speak to the injustices that we still face as a people and find artistic and creative ways to address these issues.

We are excited to bring this theme to life through carefully curated programming that will kick off with the NBAF Black History Month event, “Blacklisted! Banned Book Fair”, which speaks directly to the injustices highlighted through recent campaigns designed to censor and diminish Black voices.

Blacklisted! Banned Book Fair takes place on February 24th and 25th, and aligns with NBAF’s mission to:

• Expose audiences to important and diverse works by African American authors,
• Educate the public on how the banning of African American literature has been part of a larger pattern of censoring voices that advocate for social justice, civil rights, and the dismantling of racial prejudices,
• Engage young and old readers alike with the wealth of African American books available to them, and
• Entertain audiences with informative panel discussions, staged readings, an indie book market, and more!
           For more info, please visit our Black History Month page on nbaf.org

There are so many exciting things on the horizon for NBAF this year and we look forward to bringing you quality multi-disciplinary programming focused on uplifting and highlighting Black art and artists in new ways throughout 2024.  As we continue our transition back to larger immersive events and chart a path back to the renowned NBAF Festival, our team is committed to innovatively presenting the best in Black art and we look forward to continuing to make an impact in the community with your partnership. We look forward to seeing you soon online or at an upcoming event! For the Silo, Stephanie R. Owens.

Reflecting on the remarkable journey of 2023, we’re excited to share the significant impact your support has made on our mission and community. We encourage you to delve into the highlights and accomplishments of the past year in our 2023 Impact Report, available here.

Click on the image above to view a visual journey of the transformative moments and positive change that helped us achieve in 2023.

NBAF PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Check out these upcoming events from NBAF!

Blacklisted! Banned Books Fair Saturday & Sunday, February 24th & 25th Atlanta, GA Calling all authors, literature lovers, and vendors to join us in celebrating the written word! NBAF’s 2024 Black History Month program, Blacklisted! Banned Book Fair celebrates the African American authors creating work that challenges the status quo and speaks truth to power. The programming features: • Moderated panel discussions with Black Authors, Activists & Intellectuals • Indie Black Book Market featuring African American booksellers and authors • Youth Book Fair with interactive children’s activities • Community Book Drive to benefit youth-centered non-profits • Interactive exhibitions about banned African-American literature and authors • Social Photo booths, food vendors & more! Mark your calendars and get ready for a weekend filled with storytelling, creativity, and activism. This interactive experience is in partnership with the Morehouse College Movement Memory and Justice Project, South Fulton Arts, 44th & 3rd Bookseller and the Black Writers Weekend. If you’re an author, bookseller, or have literature/education or activism related products, apply to be a vendor on the NBAF website. Spaces are limited, so secure your space today!

Authors Vendor AppPublishers Vendor AppMerch Vendor App

SAVE THE DATE!

Saturday, March 27

Taking place at the Atlanta History Center and in partnership with Neiman Marcus, FA+F attendees enjoy food + drinks, an impeccably curated fashion show, fashion icons and artists award presentations, and are introduced to the winning student designer of the annual Fashion Forward Student Design Competition.

Fine Art + Fashion raises funds to support NBAF’s operations and programs for artists of all ages and disciplines, particularly our youth arts education programs for underserved students of African descent.

LEARN MORE AND PURCHASE YOUR SEAT!

2024 NBAF Fashion Forward A Competition for Student Fashion Designers NBAF Fashion Forward honorees are selected by a distinguished panel of judges and receive a cash prize of $1,500. The 2024 NBAF Fashion Forward honorees will be presented at NBAF’s Fine Art + Fashion Benefit on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 in Atlanta, GA. To get started, check out nbaf.org/fashion-forward to download the Fashion Forward Fact Sheet to learn more about the application requirements. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact Fashion Forward Coordinator, Page Yang, at pyang@nbaf.org. Please mention thesilo.ca when contacting. The deadline to apply is Friday, January 26, 2024 at 11:59 PM EST. APPLY HERE!

2024 Artist Project Fund Applications Eligible Metro Atlanta Artists Apply Today   The 2024 Artist Project Fund (APF) is a $2,000 usd grant and 6-month artistic development program for Metro Atlanta artists seeking funds to complete an ongoing project. APF supports 20 professional artists in the completion of an ongoing artistic project, fosters a sense of community and creative collaboration, and provides immersive artistic and career development experiences to help them grow as artists and creative entrepreneurs. The deadline to apply is Friday, February 2, 2024 at 11:59 PM EST.

APPLY HERE!

SHOP THE NBAF STORE

New Merch! Your purchase supports NBAF’s year round programming.

Select from special limited edition art prints, t-shirts, tote bags, note books, and more!Black Art Matters TeeNBAF Commemorative PinsRadcliffe Bailey NBAF 10th Anniversary PostersBlack Art Matters stainless steel tumblerNBAF tote bagNBAF Logo Unisex Hoodie With Shop Pay you can get it now and pay later! Pay in 4 interest-free installments for orders over $50.00.

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