651 ARTS, in partnership with Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, presents its Third Annual Juneteenth Celebration, in collaboration with The Soapbox Presents.
It’s about that time! On Saturday, June 17th, 651 ARTS is teaming up with The Soapbox Presents to activate The Plaza at 300 Ashland in Brooklyn for We Outside! A Brooklyn Juneteenth, a full-day Juneteenth celebration of the brilliance of Black people and the cultural contributions that Black people have made that make this country what it is.
In this spirit we are bringing the plaza to life in full force! Join us for ‘Stoop Sessions’ live musical performances, the family-friendly ‘Kid’s Korner’, DJs, the ‘Young, Black and Gifted’ marching bands, majorettes, and steppers, a special visual arts installation, ‘Melanated Notes’ spoken word performances, and a dance party for the ages! Throughout the day, guests can visit Made Black: a Juneteenth Market, a Black maker’s market curated by Brooklyn Popup, that will line the perimeter of the plaza holding space for Black entrepreneurship!
This event is FREE and open to the public. All are welcome!
We Outside! A Brooklyn Juneteeth is presented in partnership with Downtown Brooklyn Partnership with support by Two Trees Management Co.
ALL DAY X ALL LOVE X ALL BROOKLYN
THE LINEUP
Made Black: a Juneteenth Market
We’re celebrating Black entrepreneurship with a maker’s market curated by our market partner, Brooklyn Pop Up. From teas and tees to balms and bags, buy Black and support local this Juneteenth.
Kid’s Korner
The day will kick off with our family-friendly “#KidsKorner” where children can enjoy ventriloquism, arts & crafts, workshops and exhibitions in the true spirit of Juneteenth.
Activities will include:
- DIY tap shoes and tap workshop
- Chalk art
- Table murals
- Ventriloquist Dr. Gel and Cindy Hot Chocolate @docta_gel
- Dance exhibition by The Ladies of Hip Hop
- Double Dutch workshop and demonstration with The Official Jazzy Jumpers @officialjazzyjumpers
- Roller skating Exhibition
Young, Black and Gifted
A tribute to HBCU Culture. Next up we are stepping through history as we join the Divine 9, young and old, as they show off their signature strolls, paying homage to Black fraternities and sororities.
Marching bands, majorettes, and steppers will take to the plaza to celebrate the cultural traditions first made popular on campus, including Brooklyn United Marching Band, The Empire Marching Elite Iotas Phi Theta, Queen Crusaders, Sigmas, and Kappa Alpha Psi!
Melanated Notes
Next up is our spoken word session, “Melanated Notes”. Led by Brooklyn based spoken word artist, Mahogany L Browne, here we pair rhythm and word to bring you a dynamic hour of some of Brooklyn’s best poets supported by live accompaniment.
Stoop Sessions: Freedom Songs
The evening is brought to a close with “The Soapbox Presents: Freedom Songs”. Opening with “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, sung by Grammy winning singer/songwriter J. Hoard, this music activation explores our protest music and the songs that liberate us. With a full band, sounds of joy and freedom will ring out from the plaza. From there, we will dance the night away, as DJ Jive Poetic brings the day of celebration to a close with an epic dance party.
About The Soapbox Presents
THE SOAPBOX PRESENTS is a platform, literally and figuratively, for Black and brown expression. Founded by Marija Abney, in response to the murder of George Floyd, The Soapbox Presents creates a space for us to commune, resist, be rejuvenated and revived in celebration of the brilliance of Black and brown people through the performing arts.
Since 2020, the organization has provided free arts programming to community featuring some of NYC’s most talented artists. From Mahogany L Browne (Lincoln Center’s first poet-in-residence) to Sean Mason (arranger, composer, pianist, and featured guest of the Wynton Marsalis Quintet), The Soapbox Presents gives Black and brown artists the opportunity to give back to their communities and each and every artist featured on the platform is paid.
About Downtown Brooklyn Partnership
Downtown Brooklyn Partnership is a not-for-profit local development corporation that serves as the primary champion for Downtown Brooklyn as a world-class business, cultural, educational, residential, and retail destination. Working together with the three business improvement districts (BID) that it manages – the MetroTech BID, Fulton Mall Improvement Association, and Court-Livingston-Schermerhorn BID – the Partnership’s diverse activities include attracting new businesses and improving the environment for existing companies; facilitating the construction of public spaces and streetscapes that promote an active and cohesive community; supporting and promoting Downtown Brooklyn’s cultural assets; and encouraging a unified sense of place and an engaged civic community. For more information, visit www.downtownbrooklyn.com.
About the Plaza at 300 Ashland
The Plaza at 300 Ashland sits at the heart of the Brooklyn Cultural District, adjacent to the brownstone Brooklyn neighborhoods of Fort Greene, Boerum Hill, and Park Slope. DBP has partnered with premier Brooklyn arts organizations such as BAM, BRIC, Brooklyn Public Library, Mark Morris Dance Group, MoCADA, 651 Arts, and Theatre for a New Audience (TFANA) to offer free, high-quality programming for everyone. Programming at The Plaza at 300 Ashland is made possible by support from Two Trees Management Co.