2019 Events

2019 was a great year with a diverse programme.
Here is all the festival showcasing amazing multi-cultural talent in Liverpool.

What a year 2019 was! It has been one of the most memorable, special, and inspiring years for us delivering the festival.

The first Black Lord Mayor of Liverpool Anna Rothery described the festival being a monumental moment in the history of Liverpool giving an inspiring speech about our city and the communities she has been representing for years. We hope that we can leave a legacy of the first Black Arts Festival in the UK born here at the heart of Liverpool.

A huge thank you to our funders National Lottery Community Fund, Arts Council England, Liverpool City Council, LCVS, Awesome Liverpool, Writings On the Wall and supporting venues Unity Theatre, Everyman Theatres, Philharmonic Hall, The Bluecoat, Hope Street Theatre, International Slavery Museum, Toxteth TV and Kuumbaimani Millennium Centre.

Thank you to commissioned artists, workshop facilitators, participants and audiences.

We had a reach of 3 million reaches in our promotional events with an estimate of 700 people access our festival and events throughout the year. Thank you to Liverpool Echo, BBC Radio Merseyside, ArtCity, The Guide Liverpool, Radio City Talk and Condor Online and many more. There are so many highlights, too many to mention enjoy the below event highlights of our portfolio.

BLACKFEST LAUNCH
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Unity Theatre
6:00pm - 10:00pm
23rd September
View event highlights
BLACKFEST HEALING DAY
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Blackburne House
2:00pm - 5:00pm
24th September
View event highlights
INDEPENDENT FILM
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FACT
10 - 12pm
24th September
View event highlights
BLACKFEST RHYTHMS
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24 Kitchen Street
6:00pm - 10:00pm
25th September
View event highlights
HEAR ME NOW MONOLOGUES
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Everyman Theatre
Thursday
26th September 2019
View event highlights
ART COUNCIL SURGERY
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Friday
27th September 2019
View event highlights
SPOKEN WORD POETRY NIGHT
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Bluecoat
Saturday
28th September 2019
View event highlights
DIVERSITY DIALOGUES
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Int. Slavery Museum
Sunday
29th September 2019
View event highlights
CELEBRATION NIGHT
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Philharmonic Hall
Wednesday
2nd October 2019
View event highlights

Here is some of our favourite feedback.

“A diverse and exciting programme”
“A Black audience! young folks of mixed parentage performing wonderfully.”
“It was educational and informative about a culture other than my own”
“I loved how it brought everybody together, the relatable stories, the brightness it brought.”
“Loved seeing so much local work from the being presented.”
“Seeing new performances and hearing new writing”
“The organisation has been excellent and inclusivity.”
“Powerful, emotive and a real sense of community/acceptance.”
“Very entertaining and informative.”
“Really interesting discussions on important issues, open dialogue – good to see influencers in the arts all in one place.”
“Interesting content and good varieties, a cool medium to express an important purpose.”
“The different aspects of the including all represented equally and brilliantly.”
“Fantastic discussion – interesting perspectives.”
“The discussions, the open and healthy dialogue.”
“Great discussion, passionate lively, thought-provoking.”
“Diversity of community and talent within the City and very inspiring.”
“The enthusiasm and clarity behind the performances. The intimacy of the venue and broad range of performance styles”
“Hope for future, lots of talent to support.”
“The vibe, the artists, the variety, the space, the organisation, the blackness.”
“The community involved! The vibrations and meeting new people.”
“The performances were wise, moving, astounding & super excellent. Dead friendly crowd.”
“It was all very exciting, spine-tingling. Loved the dance.”

Check out the below articles and links on us:

The Power List: 100 of the most influential people on Merseyside. No. 55 on the list. -Liverpool Echo

Many institutions do not reflect the city’ – meet the woman making Liverpool’s arts scene more inclusive -Liverpool Echo

Festival will celebrate black and ethnic minority artists in Liverpool -Liverpool Echo

BlackFest: Liverpool Black Arts Festival Returns -Lavida Liverpool

BLACKFEST -Bidolito

BlackFest celebrates city talent this September -Art City Liverpool

This is your guide to BlackFest 2019 -The Guide Liverpool

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