ROCHESTER – A new Black arts hub called Griot Arts is launching in Rochester as part of Black History Month.

Griot Arts seeks to amplify the voices of Black artists in Southeast Minnesota and support creatives, makers, arts educators and art-ivists, said its founder Nicole Asong Nfonoyim-Hara.

As part of its inaugural programming, Griot Arts is co-hosting three programs for Black History Month in February. They are:

• Through the Black Lens: Independent Black Cinema: Through the month, Pop’s Art Theater and Griot Arts will be featuring a collection of critically acclaimed independent films by Black filmmakers, including “Watermelon Woman” (1996), “Cane River” (1982), “Black Girl” (1966), and “Daughters of the Dust” (1991). 
• Still We Rise: Rochester’s Black Legacy: The traveling pop-up exhibition highlights key leaders and events that have shaped the local Rochester community and its history. 
• Blacks Arts Mixer: This will be an informal gathering of Black artists at 6 p.m., Feb. 26 at Forager Brewery and Cafe. Its purpose is to build community among Black artists and foster discussion and understanding about the need for arts and cultural spaces in the city. 

Rochester’s Black community represents the largest racial and ethnic minority in Rochester, making up nearly 10% of the population. Yet, there are no arts or cultural spaces centered on the city’s Black citizens or “provide safe spaces for them to engage deeply with the artistic and cultural life of the community,” said Asong Nfonoyim-Hara.
The national theme for Black History Month is “African Americans and the Arts.”

“Sometimes, we forget the central role arts and culture have played and continue to play in Black life,” Asong Nfonoyim-Hara said. “Some of the first acts of Black resistance were centered on dance, music, drum rhythms, story-telling and poetry. During the Civil Rights era and the Black Power movements, Black art empowered, grounded and connected issues of justice to the heart and soul of this nation. We need to continue to support and sustain these practices in our local community as we confront ongoing economic disparities and systemic racism.”

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