Though Manhattan has historically received the lion’s share of attention for its arts and culture scene, Brooklyn, which gave the world such luminaries as Jean Michel Basquiat, Jay-Z, Barbara Streisand, Lena Horne, and many more, is home to such important arts institutions as the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Art (MoCADA), the Billie Holiday Theatre, and the historic Thelma Hill Performing Arts Center. It’s also home to dance companies such as Mark Morris and Brooklyn Ballet, and centers such as Cumbe Center for African and Diaspora Dance and Dancewave. At the heart of the borough is the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), which hosts some of the most dynamic and culturally impactful performances in the country each year. Pratt Institute and Brooklyn Museum, one of the world’s premier art schools and art museums, respectively, live here. In addition, Brooklyn boasts a plethora of art galleries filled with work from the most promising and distinguished artists of our time.
On Sept. 27 and 28, Brooklyn will celebrate its artists and artistic institutions with the Downtown Brooklyn Arts Festival (DBAF). Taking place in the Downtown Brooklyn Arts District on or near the Plaza at 300 Ashland at the corner of Flatbush and Lafayette avenues, it will feature a broad spectrum of activations, performances, and collaborations.
President of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership Regina Myer stated in a press release for the event that “DBAF showcases the best of our local talent at one of our neighborhood’s most beloved public spaces…This year, we’re bringing an exciting new lineup of DJs, dance performances, and vocalists from some of Brooklyn’s most renowned cultural institutions. There is something for everyone to enjoy at DBAF and we look forward to welcoming the community back for a two-day celebration of our borough’s creative spirit.”
Most of the events will be free and open to the public and will include a Friday evening kickoff party featuring DJ Spinna, DJ K.Tea, and two-time Grammy winner Dawn Tallman, also known as the Queen of Gospel House. Dance group Nutribe will perform in collaboration with Mark Morris Dance Group exploring a number of dance styles originating in the Black American community including Waacking and Krump.
The festival’s opening night will also celebrate Brooklyn’s literary arts scene with an event at the Center for Fiction at 15 Lafayette Avenue. Five contemporary authors — Regina Porter (“The Rich People Have Gone Away”), Honorée Fanonne Jeffers (“The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois”), Kim Coleman Foote (“Coleman Hill”), Shayla Lawz (speculation, n.), and Francesca Momplaisir (“My Mother’s House”) — will celebrate the centennial of literary giant James Baldwin in conversation about the role of women in his stories.
Saturday events begin midday with interactive art installations by Theater for a New Audience and UrbanGlass, and a co-presentation from BAMkids and the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership of training and performance in Afro-Caribbean rhythms and movement. It will be taught by BAM teaching artists Okai Fleurimont and Yasmar Cruz.
Later on, singers will hold court at the Plaza. First, Natie Music, who has collaborated with a variety of artists including the Sketchy Orkestra, Kennedy Administration, and, more recently, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, brings her unique meld of Kreol Soul, hip-hop, and jazz. Following will be Nicholas Ryan Gant, also known as GhettoFalsetto, presented in partnership with 651 Arts. Gant’s singularly soulful stylings have brought him into collaboration with the likes of Mariah Carey, Jon Batiste, Run the Jewels, Sy Smith, Childish Gambino, Miri Ben-Ari, and Michael McDonald.
Another party, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., introduces the closing events, this time helmed by beloved father-son DJ duo, Chad and Jo Vill, known as St. James Joy, who grew in popularity after their spontaneous music accompaniment grew into a regular party for those cheering essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Finally, the celebrations culminate with a performance by #SampleSaleMusic given in partnership with MoCADA. Jazz, blues, and soul inflections mark this immersive musical journey of the duo who describe themselves as “Jazzy rap guys who love Soul and Caribe music.”
The Plaza at 300 Ashland is one of the largest outdoor public spaces in Brooklyn and often hosts the artistic and cultural happenings that give the city its character. Since its opening, the 15,000-square-foot space has hosted hundreds of performances, dance and fitness classes, and major public art installations, many in partnership with institutions of the Brooklyn Cultural District and beyond.
For more information, please visit www.dbartsfestival.org.