The Afro-American Festival, or AFRAM, has been a celebration of Black culture in Baltimore for 50 years, and is a beloved tradition for many Baltimoreans who have watched it grow and evolve over the decades.
Category: Arts & Culture
Posted inBaltimore Community
Beyond the main stage: AFRAM’s vendor marketplace fuels Black artistry and entrepreneurship
Though AFRAM is best known for the R&B, hip-hop and soul artists who headline the festival each year, the Baltimore tradition also doubles as a vibrant marketplace for visual artists, fashion designers and other creatives from across the East Coast. As thousands gather for the music, artisans use the weekend to share work rooted in Black culture, identity and storytelling.
Posted inBaltimore Community
AFRAM at 50: A Baltimore tradition of culture and community
AFRAM, the African American Festival, has been a Baltimore tradition for nearly five decades, celebrating Black culture, creativity and community with music, food, art, health screenings, and more.
Posted inBaltimore Events
Homegrown sound: Local artists reflect on AFRAM’s enduring influence
AFRAM, a Baltimore-based festival, has been a platform for local artists to showcase their talent and gain confidence for 50 years, with this year’s event featuring both major celebrities and local performers.
Posted inArts & Culture
Artscape 2026 turns Baltimore into cultural dreamscape despite rain
Despite rainy weather, the 2026 edition of Artscape transformed Downtown Baltimore into a vibrant celebration of culture, creativity and community engagement. The festival featured live performances, visual art, local vendors, youth entrepreneurs, advocacy organizations and interactive experiences that highlighted Baltimore’s artistic spirit and civic consciousness.
Posted inArts & Culture
Theaters and thespians from the D.C. region honored at the 42nd Annual Helen Hayes Awards
The 42nd Annual Helen Hayes Awards celebrated the creativity, diversity and impact of the Washington, D.C.-area theater community, honoring standout productions, performers and behind-the-scenes talent from across the region. Hosted at The Anthem, the ceremony highlighted theater’s enduring role as a platform for empathy, cultural expression and social reflection.
Posted inWord In Black
Reconnecting with roots: The rise of ancestry travel for Black travelers
Ancestry travel is becoming one of the most meaningful travel trends of 2026, particularly for Black travelers seeking deeper connections to their heritage, family history, and cultural identity. Fueled by DNA testing and genealogical research, these journeys transform tourism into personal discovery, with destinations like Ghana leading efforts to welcome members of the African diaspora through heritage-focused initiatives and immersive cultural experiences.
Posted inArts & Culture
Artscape 2026 stages to spotlight women
Artscape 2026 will spotlight women performers, DJs and hosts across multiple stages during the nation’s largest free outdoor arts festival in downtown Baltimore over Memorial Day weekend. Headlined by The Roots, Stephanie Mills and Kindred the Family Soul, the festival will also feature art exhibitions, family programming, culinary experiences and late-night entertainment celebrating the city’s vibrant creative culture.
Posted inArts & Culture
Imani Bilal and `The Beauty of Enough’
Imani Bilal explores grief, self-preservation and the emotional cost of overgiving in her new exhibit, “The Beauty of Enough,” on display in Brooklyn through May 27. The self-taught artist reflects on her creative journey, spiritual practice and groundbreaking international success — including becoming the first Black American artist to design a luxury hotel in Saudi Arabia — while challenging narrow definitions of Black art and abstraction.
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Druski tapped to host BET Awards, becoming youngest emcee in show’s 25-year history
By Jonathan Landrum Jr. Drew “Druski” Desbordes will host the 2026 BET Awards, becoming the youngest emcee in the show’s history. BET announced April 30 that the 31-year-old comedian and digital creator will lead the ceremony, which airs live June 28 from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Druski surpasses Kevin Hart, who previously held […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Met gala guests deliver works of art on the human form
By Beatrice Dupuy Whether dressed in a jewel-encrusted skeletal form, sculpted breast plates or anatomy-evoking trompe l’oeil, Met Gala guests physically evoked the theme “fashion is art” May 4 evening as they masterfully pulled from a kaleidoscope of references to embody living works of art. “Everyone who attended the Met Gala this year really leaned […]
Posted inHBCU
‘Carmen’ production at Xavier challenges opera’s exclusive past
Students and faculty at Xavier University of Louisiana are using their production of “Carmen” to challenge long-held perceptions of opera as exclusive and inaccessible. Rooted in the university’s history and legacy, the performance highlights the role HBCUs play in expanding access to the art form while shaping its future.
