PHOENIX, AZ – January 27, 2026 – Phoenix Center for the Arts is honored to announce Living Black Worlds, a two‑day immersive cultural activation taking place February 27–28, 2026, in celebration of Black History Month. The program is curated by Black River Life, a cultural organization dedicated to elevating Black creativity, memory, and community storytelling.

Living Black Worlds will transform the Phoenix Center for the Arts into a living ecosystem of Black cultural expression, structured around three modes of engagement:

● MIND: Readings, film, dialogue, and reflective conversation
● HANDS: Craft, making traditions, and embodied knowledge
● BODY: Dance, rhythm, celebration, and communal movement

Across two days, attendees will experience book readings and panel discussions, documentary screenings, workshops, dance classes, gallery exhibitions, facility tours, and DJ‑driven evening celebrations with each offering a window into Black memory, knowledge, and creative practice. Collette Watson from Black River Life shared, “Visual and performing arts give everyone the
keys to unlocking the fullness of community. We’re honored to invite neighbors to learn something new about one another while experiencing art that’s rooted in Black self-love, right in the heart of downtown Phoenix.”

“Phoenix is a city rich with cultural lineages and artistic brilliance,” said Executive Director Angelique Kane of Phoenix Center for the Arts. “Living Black Worlds offers our community a chance not just to observe, but to learn from living Black culture rooted in creativity, resilience, and global influence.”

Together, these perspectives highlight Black culture as living, evolving, and profoundly interconnected which reinforces the Center’s belief that arts and culture are essential tools for understanding, unity, and collective empowerment.

About Phoenix Center for the Arts:
Phoenix Center for the Arts provides arts and culture opportunities for all through education, programming, and advocacy. The Center strives to be the premier provider of arts and cultural experiences that improve, stimulate, and unite the communities we serve.

About Black River Life:
Black River Life is an arts and cultural organization dedicated to amplifying Black creativity, memory, scholarship, and community leadership through storytelling, events, and collaborative programming.