The 2024 national theme for Black History Month is "African Americans and the Arts" showcasing the many impacts Black Americans have had on visual arts, literary arts, and cultural movements. Join the David C. Frederick Honors College as we host our signature Changemakers in Art series to highlight the Black impact in the arts for Black History Month. You will have three distinct and dynamic opportunities to engage with changemakers in art and learn about how you can leverage the art space. Please register in advance for any/all of these events!

February 15—Changemakers in Art: Visual Arts Panel

7:00–8:30 p.m. in C4C: The Understory (B–50, Cathedral of Learning)
Virtual option at: https://pitt.zoom.us/j/92140198097
Frederick Honors College's Artist-in-Residence, Morgan Overton, and Diplomat-in-Residence, Sherry Zalika Sykes, will be joined by special guest, Emmai Alaquiva. They will discuss the impact of African American arts on the global stage, how you can use your art as a form of activism and preserving democracy, and using media to tell African-American stories.

February 16—Changemakers in Art: Finding Your Rhythm

UPDATED LOCATION: 6:00–8:00 p.m. in the William Pitt Union Assembly Room
Join Emmai Alaquiva will have a DJ, pieces from his exhibit OPTICVOICES: Mama’s Boys, walk through his life story, and give the audience an opportunity to ask questions.

Emmai Alaquiva is manufacturing the future of digital art across the multiverse of mindful media. “The sky is not the limit,” says Alaquiva, a four-time Emmy Award-winning film director, photographer and an August Wilson African American Center B.U.I.L.D artist-in-residence for his national exhibit of photography, film, mixed media, and augmented reality called OPTICVOICES: Mama’s Boys. 

February 16—Changemakers in Art: Literary Arts Panel

3:00–4:00 p.m. in Hillman Library Archives & Special Collections (A&SC), Room 340
Virtual option at: https://pitt.zoom.us/j/98466515513
Frederick Honors College Writer-in-Residence, Damon Young, and Frederick Honors College electus faculty fellow, Dr. Michael Sawyer, will have an interactive discussion moderated by the Center for African American Poetry and Poetic's Joy Priest. They will discuss what Black art means in the 21st Century.

This event is sponsored by the David C. Frederick Honors College in partnership with: CAAPP- Center for African American Poetry and Poetics; Center for Creativity; Center for Ethnic Studies Research; Center on Race and Social Problems; Department of Africana Studies; Department of English; Department of Theatre Arts; Graduate Program for Cultural Studies; Office for Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion; Office of the Provost: Graduate Studies; University Library System.