The Black History Month Culture and Arts Festival will be held on February 11, 2023 noon to five, will be jam packed with wonderful arts from around the world performed by award winning groups from the Puget Sound area to celebrate Black History. There is Theatre, Dance, Music and Art with audience participation, hands-on activities and two new exhibits at the Karshner Museum and Center for Culture and Arts. The new exhibits are “The Colors and Rhythms of Africa” featuring many artifacts from the Karshner’s collection and an exhibit, “Hats, Hats, Hats” to celebrate National Hat Day. The Karshner Center produces 4-5 Culture and Arts Festivals a year to celebrate the diversity of cultures, and the contributions in the arts and humanities each bring to our world.
The performing groups include:
Book-It Repertory Theatre from Seattle performing theatre based on the book “Tiara’s Hat Parade” by Kelly Starling Lyons. Tiara has a gift for storytelling; her momma has a gift for making hats. When a new store opens that sells cheaper hats, Momma has to set her dreams aside, but Tiara has an idea for helping Momma’s dreams come true again.
The second of the headliners is the “Zambuko Marimba Band” directed by Sheree Seretse. The ensemble will be performing the music of Zimbabwe, South Africa & Kenya. Sheree Seretse graduated from the University of Washington and studied the world of Zimbabwe music and dance through Dr. Dumisani Maraire. Sheree was instrumental in developing several performing ensembles through the Langston Hughes Cultural Arts Center.
Another headliner of the Festival is The Rhapsody Project Songsters – students of the Rhapsody Project performing a range of music that celebrates the vital influence of Black American music on our culture and country.
Finally, the amazing dance crew of Massive Monkees will teach attendees about breakdancing and hip hop and will perform at the event. Massive Monkees established in 1999 is a Seattle-based Hip Hop Boys group that has brought national and international attention to Seattle with two-time world championships, TV appearances, global tours, and were directly involved in achieving breakdancing’s inclusion in the 2024 Olympics.
The Black History Culture and Arts Festival will also have art projects based on African art forms, vendors selling handcrafted items from Africa and Black artists, Hat Contest recognitions and more. Food trucks will serve food during the day and the event is free.
Dr. John Polm, states, “We are very proud of the Karshner Museum and Center for Culture & Arts here in the Puyallup School District. The Museum was founded in 1931 by Dr. and Mrs. Warner Karshner and has grown to become a central feature of our district educational programming as well as a strong cultural element of City of Puyallup and the broader Puyallup Valley and community. The Black History exhibits and activities are very exciting this year. We look forward to seeing art, hearing music, and interacting with community members throughout the month. As always, admission is free.”
Karshner Museum and Center for Culture & Arts Puyallup School District 309 4th St NE Puyallup, WA 98371 . Email: KarshnerCenter@puyallup.k12.wa.us Website: www.Karctr.puyallup.k12.wa.us