The Roots of English Black Arts & Culture

03/25/2025

So what if February is over? So what if *March* is almost over?? Those aren't reasons to stop honouring and acclaiming Black history and heritage! So join us in doing so at our upcoming "Crafting Our Roots" Black cultural exhibition concert this coming >>Saturday, March 29th from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM at Schofield Hall, 90 Roosevelt Ave., Town of Mount Royal!!!

Celebrate English Black Arts & Culture with poetry, calypso, crafts & community at 'Crafting Our Roots'—a vibrant cultural celebration!

03/17/2025

Ever wish you could celebrate Black history, culture, and heritage year-round, and not just every February? Well, here's your chance! This video footage captures part of the very first session of the Griot Nights Workshop in Playmas Montreal's The Roots of English Black Arts & Culture Program, facilitated last October via Zoom by renowned Montreal spoken-word poet Roen Higgins.

In this session, Ms. Higgins was kind enough to teach our participants about the history of the West African griot oral storytelling tradition and how spoken-word poetry grew out of it. She then proceeded to show everyone in attendance how to draw on their cultural backgrounds, their experiences, and their skills to wield language and tell their own stories poetically. You can also briefly hear the contributions of our other spoken-word workshop facilitator, poet Kym Dominique-Ferguson!

To enjoy more of this kind of Black magic, check out www.playmasmontreal.com to get tickets to our upcoming "Crafting Our Roots" exhibition concert on >>Saturday, March 29th from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM at Schofield Hall, 90 Roosevelt Ave., Town of Mount Royal!!!

02/20/2025

In this video, get just a brief taste of the history of calypso music from our Roots Program facilitator, Montreal calypsonian Byron "Doggies" Cameron. You can also hear samples of some of the calypso tunes our participants learned to build from scratch in this past session of the Griot Nights Workshop!

You'll be able to enjoy these Black arts and much, much more at our upcoming "Crafting Our Roots" exhibition concert on Saturday, March 29th. You'll also experience dynamic entertainment from numerous Montreal Black community artists, including two of our Roots Program facilitators, Doggies and renowned spoken word poet Kym Dominique-Ferguson, as well as Black community cultural icons like the Wilson family, the drummers and dancers of the West-Can Folk Performing Company, and storyteller, poet, and author Richardo Keens-Douglas.

So please join us on *Saturday, March 29th from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM* at Schofield Hall (90 Ave. Roosevelt, Town of Mount Royal) for a vibrant evening celebrating the culmination of The Roots of Our English Black Arts & Culture Program! 😊👌🔥✊

-Early Bird Tickets: $25 (until Jan. 31st)
-Link to purchase tickets in profile bio and available at www.playmasmontreal.com.


*Funded by the Government of Canada

02/05/2025

Well, we've reached that moment, folks: The final regular workshop session of the Roots of Our English Black Arts & Culture Program has been held. Thanks a million to all of our participants, who braved the cold week after week to partake of these fabulous exhibitions of Black culture from around the world—not to mention our Roots Program facilitators, without whose knowledge and teaching skill none of this would have been possible! 😊

But that doesn't mean it's all over—not by any means! Now we're putting our noses to the grindstone to prepare for our *"Crafting Our Roots" final showcase event, to be held on Saturday, March 29th!!!* There, you'll be able to see samples of our participants' quilts and bags, along with the other Black works of art that they've crafted in the Roots Program, including spoken-word poetry, calypso music, African beadwork, and Caribbean Carnival costume headpieces.

Tickets will also be available for purchase at some outlets across Montreal: Caribbean Paradise Restaurant in LaSalle; Marche Colonnade in the West Island; Samail Image on Victoria Street in Cote-des-Neiges; and Long Mango in Châteauguay on the South Shore. Don't miss it!!! 😊🔥


*Funded by the Government of Canada

02/01/2025

Thanks so much to everyone who made it to the last session of the Crafting Connections Workshop last Saturday, January 25th! Facilitator Adrienne Jackson continued the Quilting segment of the workshop—this time wrapping up the sewing portion of the curriculum and beginning the actual compilation of the quilts. (If you're wondering what the difference is between sewing and quilting, never fear! Ms. Jackson explains it in part of this video clip—so be sure to watch it all the way through! 😉)

Adrienne will also facilitate the next and final Quilting session—also the final Crafting Connections & Roots Program Session!—TOMORROW, Saturday, February 1st, from 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM in Room 694 of 6767 Cote des Neiges Blvd. In addition to wrapping up the actual sewing and quilting, participants will present their work to the group, reflecting on the skills and cultural connections learned throughout the workshop. So stay tuned!

And as always, check out www.playmasmontreal.com to buy tickets to our *"Crafting Our Roots" final showcase event on Saturday, March 29th!!!* There, you'll be able to see samples of our participants' quilts, along with the other Black arts and crafts they've been able to create in the Roots Program, from poetry to calypso music to African beadwork to Caribbean Carnival costume headpieces.

Tickets will also be available for purchase at some West Indian outlets across Montreal—Caribbean Paradise Restaurant in LaSalle; Marche Colonnade in the West Island; Samil Image on Victoria Street in Cote-des-Neiges; and Long Mango in Châteauguay on the South Shore. Don't miss it!!! 😊🔥


*Funded by the Government of Canada

01/23/2025

We've reached the last (but most certainly not least!) segment of the Roots Program, folks: The Quilting segment of the Crafting Connections Workshop! Facilitated by the irrepressible Adrienne Jackson, this workshop teaches our participants the history, theory, and practice of the African-American quilting tradition—a fascinating facet of Black arts and culture that has only recently begun to attract widespread attention.

Don't forgot to check out this profile's bio for a link to the page where you can buy tickets to our *"Crafting Our Roots" final showcase event on Saturday, March 29th!!!* There, you'll be able to see samples of our participants' quilts, along with the other Black arts and crafts they've been able to create in the Roots Program, from poetry to calypso music to African beadwork to Caribbean Carnival costume headpieces.

Tickets will also be available for purchase at some West Indian outlets across Montreal—Caribbean Paradise Restaurant in LaSalle; Marche Colonnade in the West Island; Samil Image on Victoria Street in Cote-des-Neiges; and Long Mango in Châteauguay on the South Shore. Don't miss it!!! 😊🔥


*Funded by the Government of Canada