POSTPONED! The board of the Africana Repertory Theatre of IU Indianapolis (A.R.T.I.) has decided to postpone the CenterStage Theater Conference due to unforeseen venue accessibility conflicts and the resulting logistical issues. The intent is to reschedule the conference to a date this summer. Thank you for your interest and stay tuned!
Black theater has always been more than entertainment as it offers portals to view life through a Black prism. It is the distinction of stories told in authentic voices rather than by those on the outside looking in.
The Africana Repertory Theatre of IU Indianapolis (A.R.T.I) will host its third annual CenterStage Conference Saturday, April 13th to explore critical aspects of theatrical production. The event will be from 8:30 a.m to 3:30 p.m. at the Herron School of Art and Design Eskenazi Fine Arts Center, 1400 Indiana Ave., Indianapolis.
CenterStage is a one-day conference for those involved in every aspect of theater – creating access to expert resources to expand knowledge and enhance skills.
CenterStage is free to the public. Attendees are required to register in advance. The conference culminates with a luncheon keynote address and panel discussion on: “The Role of Black Arts in Addressing Our Current Sociopolitical Identities.”
Why the focus on Black theater? In the words of iconic playwright August Wilson:
“As an act of benevolence, many liberal-minded whites insist they don’t see color. We want you to see us. We are not ashamed. We have an honorable history in the world. We do not need the recognition of our blackness to be couched in abstract phrases like ‘artists of color.’ We reject that. We are black and beautiful. We are unique and we are specific.”
For questions about the CenterStage Theater Conference, email onyxfestindy@gmail.com. To register for CenterStage, visit Eventbrite.
About A.R.T.I. (Africana Repertory Theatre of IUPUI):
The Africana Repertory Theatre of IUPUI (ARTI) is a program of study offered by the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, the School of Education and the IUPUI Office of Community Engagement using a multidisciplinary approach to “edutainment.” ARTI was developed to document and artistically reflect the history, cultural life, and politics of peoples of the African Diaspora. As a public arts initiative, ARTI has a deep commitment to and focuses on artistic and community engagement. Learning in the arts is invaluable at all stages of life, and the integration of the arts into the fabric of community life may advance civic engagement while also creating a college and career pathway.