National policy shifts and coordinated efforts to censor, defund, and discredit Black arts, culture, and education have accelerated in ways that are astonishing to us. From curriculum bans to attacks on equity and inclusion initiatives, the cultural infrastructure that supports Black expression is shifting under our feet. But we’re determined to exist, preserve our culture and provide opportunities for artists to continue telling our unique stories into the future across disciplines.
The Festival Fund can no longer simply be an annual campaign to restore the festival. The stakes keep getting higher and higher. The Festival Fund is a strategic response to preserve the voice, visibility, and vitality of Black art and imagination. We are repositioning The Festival Fund as NBAF’s year-round community-centered giving platform, a vehicle to:
Our reimagined giving model keeps the ask simple: $100 from as many people as possible, while opening doors for those who wish to give more. Whether it’s $100, $1,000 or another amount, every gift moves us closer to a future where Black art, culture, and imagination are resourced and preserved.
