2024 Arts Festival returns to BRCC after being on hiatus during the Covid-19 pandemic. As many on campus and in the wider community are struggling with their mental health because of the pandemic, our focus for Arts Fest this year will be on our mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing. This year’s festival, “Create. Imagine. Art: Transforming Community through Creative Expression” will celebrate the many visiting artists, students and faculty who are using their gifts to uplift the community.
Monday March 18th
Arts Fest KICKoff
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Art and wellness combine in our kickoff event where we showcase student creativity,
highlight the healing power of art, and promote healthy living.
Open-Air Student Showcase
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM (Mid-campus fountain)
Student artisans and makers will showcase their handmade work and products.
Toya Rushing-Johnson
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: (Dumas Room / Zoom option )
Best-selling author, actress, and TV personality, Toya Johnson-Rushing will speak
about the transformative power of art in writing her New York Times Bestseller, Priceless Inspirations
Exercise with Weight No More!
11:00 AM- 12:00 PM: (Fountain area)
Toya Rushing-Johnson and Red Rushing from Weight No More, who will lead running, walking
and stretching exercises. Weight No More is committed to inspiring communities to
incorporate fitness into their daily routine.
Click here to register for this free event. (Required)
Black & Rouge Release Reading and Reception
11:30 PM - 2:00 PM (Magnolia Gallery)
In conjunction with BRCCs 25th anniversary celebration, experience the power of expression
with the hot-off-the-press 5th edition of-- Black & Rouge Art and Literary journal-- a collection of creative work from our very own students,
faculty and staff! Grab your free copy and stay for live music from Yellow Door, a
live painting demonstration, and student readings from the collection (the mic will
be open to the audience members as well.)
Adapting and Staging A Little Princess
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Black Box Theater)
Intertwining discussion and performance, LSU performing arts students and faculty
will give the audience a behind-the-scenes look at the process of adapting literature
to the stage.
Television and Screenwriting Discussion with Omar Tyree and Arthur Harris
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (Zoom)
Virtual discussion led by award-winning writers-- novelist, Omar Tyree, and screenwriter,
Arthur Harris.
Tuesday, March 19th
"Finding Your Poetic Voice & Your Purpose Through The Pain" Poetry Writing Workshop
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM (Dumas Room / Zoom option)
BRCC Alum and local poet, Antira "Queen of Expression" Jackson will present a poetry
writing workshop to encourage attendees to embrace the art of writing poetry as a
means of self-empowerment, self-healing, and self-discovery. Her poetry was first
published in the BRCC student-based Race and Ethnic Studies journal, America the Beautiful
In Spite of It All: Student Reflections on Exploring Their Cultural Identities in
the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave (2013 & 2015). Refreshments will be
served.
“No Matter What Kind of Black You Are” Photography Exhibition
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM (Magnolia Gallery)
BRCC student, Courtland Myles, presents photography that explores the complexity and
richness of Black identity.
Celebrating Resilience
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (Black Box Theater)
Spoken word poet, Chancelier “Xero” Skidmore, performs a commissioned poem to celebrate
the 25th anniversary of BRCC!
Premiere of Documentary: In the Face of Covid: The Voices From the Bayou Project
Book Reading and Talk
Luncheon
1:00 PM - 1:40 PM (Magnolia Gallery)
Contributors to Voices and Black and Rouge Journal
Alison Pelegrin, Louisiana State Poet Laureate.
1:30PM - 2:45 PM (Magnolia Gallery)
Author of Waterlines and Big Muddy River of Stars, Louisiana State Poet Laureate, Alison Pelegrin reads her work and takes student
questions on writing poetry.
Wednesday, March 20th
Unearthing Cora Kelley Ward
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (Dumas Room / Zoom option )
Acclaimed novelist and memoirist, John Ed Bradley, discusses his journey of unearthing
the unsung brilliance of Louisiana artist, Cora Kelley Ward.
Leave Your Soul On Stage
7:00 PM- 9:00 PM (Black Box Theater)
An interactive staged reading of an original play from playwright, Jason Broux. Leave Your Soul on Stage explores the creative genius of Marvin Gaye and Richard Pryor, taking on topics of
race, love, abuse, addiction and mental health and delving into the question of whether
or not pain can birth one’s greatest artistic work.
Thursday, March 21st
Yellow Door Interactive Discussion: Creative Place-Making
10:30 AM- 11:30 AM (Dumas Room / Zoom option )
Yellow Door is an artist- collective that aims to create space for black, brown and
underserved creatives to showcase their talents.
Pierce Pettis Performance and Songwriting Workshop
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (Dumas Room / Zoom option )
Nationally acclaimed singer-songwriter, virtuoso guitarist and “master musical storyteller,”
will lead a songwriting workshop and short performance. Lunch to follow.
Writing Panel with Maurice Ruffin and James Carter
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM (Dumas Room / Zoom option )
Award-winning author of American Daughters, Maurice Ruffin, and author James Carter discuss their work and take questions from
the audience.
PTK Student Sneaker Ball
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Magnolia building).
Express yourself through fashion with your best dress, suit and sneakers, hosted by
BRCC’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
*(Open only to BRCC students, faculty, staff and their guest). Registration is required.