The Chattanooga Festival of Black Arts & Ideas will host the James Baldwin Festival of Words from Friday, Aug. 25 to Sunday, Aug. 27.
Named after the legendary novelist, essayist, playwright, and activist James Baldwin, the festival is intended to “showcase emerging + established local artists of African descent who are creating, innovating, and producing work in the literary arts.”
The three-day festival will have a full schedule of events for folks to enjoy. Here’s what you can expect:
Friday, Aug. 25
Sip, Paint & Spit: Open Mic Poetry Meets Paint | 6-10 p.m. | Chattanooga Theatre Centre | $20-$30 | Kick off the festival with an interactive open mic show, art instruction by Nathan Stepney, and live music from the NuBreed Band.
Saturday, Aug. 26
Writing from the Inside Out | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Chattanooga Public Library (Downtown) | Pay what you can | Join Laura Brown for a writer’s workshop that will benefit writers of various genres.
Literary Lounge: Black Author Marketplace | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Chattanooga Public Library (Downtown) | Free+ | Meet, support, and engage with local Black authors + enjoy activities for the kids, games, and giveaways.
“Author’s Journey to Success” | 1:30 p.m. | Chattanooga Public Library (Downtown)| Free | This one-hour session led by author Linda Murray Bullard will discuss mastering marketing, promotion, and business management.
“Always Do a Double Take” | 3 p.m. | Chattanooga Public Library | Free | Join local author Rita Hubbard for a special workshop about how to uncover, research, and write about people from the past.
Excerpt from the James Baldwin Stage Play, “The Amen Corner” | 4:15 p.m. | Chattanooga Public Library (Downtown) | Free | See a performance paying homage to the author that will feature Marsha Mills + Carlos Davis.
“Who Said What” | 4:30 p.m. | Chattanooga Public Library | Free | This interactive game show + panel discussion with be led by Donivan Brown, Ricardo Morris, and Earl Braggs.
Sunday, Aug. 27
Shades of Poetry Showcase | 6 p.m. | Chattanooga Theatre Centre | $0-$20 | This immersive showcase will feature artists of various genres like spoken word, hip-hop, fashion, and more.
Note: Several of the events are free to attend, but donations are accepted + appreciated.
