Festival launches week-long celebration in Bronzeville
The week-long celebration in Bronzeville gets started in an active and fun way with the Bronzeville Arts & Cultural Festival tomorrow (Saturday, August 1) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on North Ave. between N. Dr. Martin Luther King Dr. and N. 7th St. The festival will feature three stages with live performances, a kids’ zone, resource tables featuring city departments, community groups/agencies and others, as well as an array of vendors and food offerings.
Hosted by the Friends of Bronzeville and Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, the 2015 Bronzeville Week (August 1 – 8, 2015) activities and events will be richly infused with music, culture, art, commerce, history and more.
A list of Saturday’s entertainers for each stage is attached. In addition to the kids’ stage (N. 7th St. and W. North Ave.), there will be a gospel stage near N. Dr. Martin Luther King Dr. and W. North Ave., and a main stage near N. 5th and W. North Ave.
Alderwoman Coggs, who spearheaded the successful effort to have Bronzeville Week made an official City of Milwaukee initiative two years ago, said community excitement and anticipation for the week’s events is high. “We are looking forward to sun and warm weather tomorrow for the festival, and many neighbors and friends will be on hand, so please come for the fun during what is sure to be a memorable week in Bronzeville,” she said.
On Sunday, August 2, Bronzeville Empowerment Sunday will provide an opportunity for the community to come together for a neighborhood beautification effort. Members of Bronzeville area churches and neighborhood organizations will gather at 12:00 p.m. at N. 4th and W. North Ave.
Opening Bronzeville Week/ADD ONE
On Monday, August 3, there will be “Talks on Bronzeville: The Role of Art in Bronzeville” – beginning at 5:00 p.m. at the Milwaukee Urban League, 435 W. North Ave.
The attached 2015 Bronzeville Week schedule includes descriptions of each day’s events.
Other events scheduled for 2015 Bronzeville Week include the “Bronzeville Fire,” a youth performing showcase that will take place between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. on Friday, August 7. There will be a panel discussion on the history of Bronzeville, a Bronzeville business summit focused on embracing the entrepreneurial mindset (Tuesday, August 4), featured poetry and spoken word events, Health Screenings, guided trolley tours of Bronzeville, “Heal the Soul” hosted by Ajamou Butler on Wednesday, August 5, and much more.
Bounded by Garfield Avenue to Center Street, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Drive to 7th Street, the Bronzeville Cultural and Entertainment District is wholly located in the 6th Aldermanic District.
The Bronzeville Cultural and Entertainment District is a City of Milwaukee redevelopment initiative inspired by Milwaukee’s original Bronzeville, and it is striving to revitalize the area of Milwaukee where African-American culture has been a mainstay. The Bronzeville Redevelopment Plan seeks to create economic development in a predominantly African-American neighborhood in a way that recaptures the enthusiasm and attractiveness of the original Bronzeville District.
Bronzeville Arts & Cultural Festival
Saturday, August 1, 2015
Stage line-ups are as follows:
Main Stage (near N. 5th St. and W. North Ave.)
Run-of-show: Cigarette Break (with others also performing)
Gospel Stage (near N. Dr. Martin Luther King Dr. and W. North Ave.)
10:00 a.m. – Natalie Harris
10:40 a.m. – Jovan Bentley
11:10 a.m. – Rob Zollicoffer
11:40 a.m. – Isaiah Jay
12:00 p.m. – Intermission (ends at 12:45 p.m.)
12:50 p.m. – Kaylon
1:20 p.m. – Serita Campbell
2:00 p.m. – God’s Disciples
2:25 p.m. – Melody High
3:05 p.m. – Cory Cifax
3:45 p.m. – Proficcy
4:10 p.m. – Delvyn
4:30 p.m. – Kenza DAWN
5:00 p.m. – Cigarette Break (with others also preforming)
Kids Stage (near N. 7th St. and W. North Ave.)
10:00 a.m. – Basketball Demonstration: Milwaukee Aces
11:00 a.m. – Zumba: Blanch Brown, MKE Public Theater
12:00 p.m. – Bronzeville Friends
1:00 p.m. – Dance Fusion Performance: Davis Boys and Girls Club
2:00 p.m. – Sports: Boys and Girls Club
3:00 p.m. – Sports: Boys and Girls Club
4:00 p.m. – Fit 4 You: Robert Brox
5:00 p.m. – First Stage Children’s Theater: Sheri Williams-Pannell
6:00 p.m. – End
