Black Future Festival

Join BCM for a week of reflection and future-forward fun inspired by the national celebration of Black History Month and the African Diaspora! We’re partnering with Kendra J. Bostock and STooPS to honor Black culture with incredible dance performances, powerful storytelling, dynamic workshops, and more!

Schedule

BK Dreamers by KJB Works

🕒 11:00 am – 11:45 am & 3:30 pm – 4:15 pm

What are your dreams for a beautiful Brooklyn? Join dancers of Kendra J Bostock Works as we dance out our dreams of art, joy, love and spaces where Black folks thrive as we all thrive. Through dance, music, and text, let’s explore our dreams and imagine how to make them come true together.

Linoleum Printing Workshop

🕒 12:15 pm – 1:00 pm

Create a unique star-inspired artwork through printmaking! Choose from different pre-carved linoleum blocks with images of stars, print your chosen designs on paper, and then draw things you wish for around your prints using crayons and colored pencils. This workshop introduces participants to printmaking concepts and is a fast way to create a unique souvenir. Led by Cecilia Caldiera.

The Art of Loving Oneself: ‘If Brooklyn Were a Tree…’

🕒 2:30 pm – 3:15 pm

Transform Brooklyn into a mighty tree through art and storytelling! Create your own ‘dream zine’ combining illustrations, poetry, movement, and images, with tips on what makes a healthy tree grow. Together we’ll explore themes of feeling confident with the unknown, the growth that occurs in darkness, and the relationships between water, air, earth, and fire. Led by M. Aleijuan King.

Let’s Dance Brooklyn: Past, Present, Future

🕒 2:30 pm – 3:15 pm

Try this dynamic workshop celebrating the vibrant evolution of dance. Through creative movement, participants will journey through Brooklyn’s cultural roots, embrace the present, and envision a powerful future—all while having fun and staying active! Led by Leslie Alston.

“I See You”: Workshop with Artist Larry Brown

🕒 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Meet the artist behind our Future Reflections project! Join Larry Brown in ColorLab as he guides you in creating your own reflective sculptures inspired by his “I See You” series. Using reflective paper, air-dry clay, beads, and twine, design mixed-media artworks while learning directly from the artist about his creative process and vision.

My Community Looks Like…

🕒 4:00 pm – 4:45 pm

Rep’ your ‘hood through paper collage! Use a variety of multi-colored, multi-patterned, and multi-textured paper to represent who and what makes up your community. Add an instant photo of yourself to draw a personal connection to the place you call home. Participants may choose to take their collages with them or add them to a larger collective collage that will represent the community that attends the workshop that day. Led by Pia Monique Murray/PMMDC.

Future Reflections inspired by muse artist Larry Brown

📍 ColorLab

🕒 10:30 am – 12:30 pm & 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Create future-forward “mirrors” inspired by artist Larry Brown’s “I See You” series! Using reflective paper, air-dry clay, beads, and twine, design mixed-media sculptures that give us a glimpse into the bright future ahead.

Cool by Design

📍Nature’s Engineers

🕒 10:30 am – 12:30 pm & 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Discover the science of keeping spaces cool in our STEM makerspace! Design and build your own shade structure using textiles, then put your engineering skills to the test: Can your creation protect an ice cube from melting?