Black History Month celebration: A call for artists to showcase talent
Published 12:05 am Wednesday, January 29, 2025
By Karen Kistler
karen.kistler@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — A special call is going out to all artists to celebrate Black History Month by using the theme of “I Am Black History.”
This invitation, as shared in a release by the Salisbury-Rowan NAACP is providing an opportunity for artists to “showcase their voice, talent and perspective on what Black history means to you.”
All artists are encouraged to apply, either students or adults, no matter the age, experience or background.
This will be the first talent show that the Salisbury-Rowan NAACP has hosted in partnership with the Rowan Museum during Black History Month.
In an email from Rowan County’s NAACP President Gemale Black, he said that “the ‘I am Black History’ event showcases Black history and culture through spoken word, art or dance. It provides an opportunity for community members to reflect and share what Black history means to them, creating a dialogue for understanding and appreciation.”
Work can be submitted in various categories including written, which are handwritten works including essays, poems and letters; the spoken word; dance for solo or groups; and art, which would be visual pieces in any medium including painting, drawing and sculpture.
Those entering may submit in more than one category.
Black said that “artwork, dance videos and written works are to be submitted through the online submission form and once submitted, representatives will review it to ensure it fits the showcase.”
To submit an entry or for more information, go to https://form.jotform.com/250047606169154. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 6.
All are encouraged to submit their work or talent for this special event because “it’s a way to share what Black history means to you,” shared Black. “We all have different interpretations, and this is a way to show others what ‘I am Black history’ means to them through their preferred medium of expression.”
On Feb. 18 at 6 p.m., an event will be held at the Rowan Museum in downtown Salisbury where the work of selected participants will be showcased. Selected artists will be notified via email.
Aaron Kepley, who will officially be named the museum’s executive director on Feb. 1, said the written artwork would probably be up until the end of April when the museum would begin getting ready for the Cheerwine Festival. This would provide people the opportunity to come and see the display.
All of the art and written works should be ready to display and those in the spoken and dance categories will be performed during the Feb. 18 event.
This Black History Month celebration event is a partnership between the Salisbury-Rowan NAACP and the Rowan Museum, and during special months like Black History Month, Kepley said they “are happy to partner with the NAACP to add more to the African American stories we already showcase in the museum. The Rowan Museum is Rowan County’s only history museum devoted to the county’s histories. So it’s your story if you live here or from here.”
The two groups first partnered when the museum hosted a Lease Day event on Jan. 1, he said. Reaching out to the NAACP and sharing the story of that day in history, Kepley said “they jumped right on it and we discussed the event coming up in February as well and an event coming up in May.”
As the host site, Kepley said the role of the museum at this event would be to help facilitate the conversation and hold the stories and they would encourage all to come and see this showcase of talent, because “anytime that people are engaging with the stories and memories and history that they specifically connect with, you can get unique perspectives into their lives as well as a different perspective on the community that maybe you never considered even if you’ve lived here your entire life.”
In the release, community members were encouraged to “share your creativity and be part of this powerful celebration of history, heritage and identity.”