Summer Fun Heats Up With Film, Hip Hop, Puppets and Writing Workshops

New programs highlight culture, creativity, and kid-friendly learning

The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture announced its roster of family-friendly summer programming today with a lineup of workshops for students of all ages. From hip hop and technology, writing for stage and screen and an animated mid- morning film series, parents have myriad opportunities to expose their children to arts and cultural experiences during July and August.

“We recognize the importance of providing innovative opportunities for children to learn about new cultures and become global citizens,” said Gantt Center President & CEO David Taylor. “This summer’s programs will offer parents and guardians a variety of classes with universal appeal.”

The summer programs include the monthly Family First Presented by Novant Health Series featuring North Carolina artists Jeffery Weatherford, a poet and visual artist, and award-winning writer Stacey Rose; a panel and discussion on hip hop and technology with Weatherford, performing artists Patrick Hill and T. Walker, as well as students from With These Handz DJ Academy. Additionally, the Gantt Center will present Movies @ The Museum, a mid-morning film series of animated films and creative sessions each Tuesday morning in July from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

“Our goal is to activate the Gantt Center in a way that excites children about the world of art,” Taylor also said. “We look forward to welcoming the community and sharing the breadth of the African
diaspora with them.”

Scheduled Programs

July 7 – Family First Presented by Novant Health: Hip Hop Tech
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, ages 9-12

Artist and poet Jeffery Weatherford takes students on an interactive journey through the process of writing and mixing hip hop hits!

July 7 – Digital Beats + Rhymes
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM, ages 18+

Go behind the scenes in this interactive panel and performance workshop that shows the technical side of creating musical beats.

July 10 – Movies @ the Museum
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Featured movie - Sing (PG)

After the film, participants will enter a mini talent show and take home a resource list of books and names to learn more about famous African-American entertainers.

July 17 – Movies @ the Museum
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Featured movie - Bino & Fino (PG)

After the film, participants will create their own art based on themes in the film to learn more about the African continent.

July 24 – Movies @ the Museum
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Featured movie - Zootopia(PG)

After the film, participants will create masks inspired by the movie’s characters.

August 11 – Family First Presented by Novant Health: Writing for Stage + Screen
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Aspiring writers learn the nuances of screenplay, teleplay, & theatrical play structure and how to bring story ideas from your mind to the page from award-winning writer and Charlotte’s own Stacey Rose.

August 11 – Callaloo Puppeteers (pronounced KAH-LAH-LOO)
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

The authors of Callaloo children’s books stop in Charlotte on their multi- city tour to bring their third book release to the Gantt Center with a live reading and their award-winning puppetry performance.

All programs take place at the Gantt Center at 551 S. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202. Visit ganttcenter.org for details and to register.

About Family First Series

Held monthly at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, Family First consists of art- making workshops that provide creative time for families. Adults and children are invited to participate in a range of discussions, workshops and experiences often inspired by current exhibitions at the Gantt Center.

About Harvey B. Gantt Center

The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture is a multi-disciplinary arts institution located in the heart of Charlotte, North Carolina. Founded in 1974, the Gantt Center’s mission is to present, preserve and celebrate excellence in the art, history and culture of African-Americans and those of African descent through visual and literary arts, dance, music, film, educational programs, theatre productions and community outreach. The Gantt Center features fine art exhibitions from around the world and is home to the nationally celebrated John and Vivian Hewitt Collection of African-American Art, which was generously donated by Bank of America, and is accessible online.

Named for Charlotte civic leader and former mayor Harvey Bernard Gantt, the Gantt Center is housed in an inspired and distinguished award-winning structure designed by architect Philip Freelon, co-designer of the new Smithsonian National Museum for African American History and Culture. For more information, visit ganttcenter.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Novant Health

Novant Health is a not-for-profit integrated system of 15 medical centers and 1,514 physicians in 529 locations, as well as numerous outpatient surgery centers, medical plazas, rehabilitation programs, diagnostic imaging centers and community health outreach programs. Novant Health's over 25,000 team members and physician partners care for patients and communities in North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia.

Posted on Monday, June 18, 2018

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