Art After Dark: Across The Diaspora

Art After Dark: Across the Diaspora celebrates the rich and expansive contributions of people of African descent through music, movement, and visual art from cultures around the world. This special evening highlights the creativity and cultural influence of Black people through dynamic performances, storytelling, and artistic expression. Attendees will enjoy a vibrant mix of live music with curated DJ sets, plus a special trivia night featuring original questions on pop culture, music, movies, TV, science, history, sports, and current events—with exciting prizes for participants. Guests can satisfy their appetites with delicious food available for purchase from Don’s Jamaican Kitchen and Cuzzo’s mobile trucks.

Program Schedule:

7:00 pm - 11:00 pm (Second and Third Floors)

Exhibition Galleries Open

7:00-9:00 pm| Second Floor (Grand Lobby)

"Heard It All Before: A Live Experience Made for Real Music Lovers"

Presented by Winston Robinson/ Applesauce Group with DJ B-Man

Heard It All Before is an immersive, interactive kickback built for people who truly live and breathe music. This live experience invites guests to dive deep into the sounds and stories that shaped generations. From classic soul to modern samples, it’s all about celebrating the history, culture, and legacy of music in a way that’s vibrant, social, and unforgettable.

Come ready to laugh, vibe, and reconnect with the music that made us—all in the feel-good atmosphere of a house party with the soul of a jam session.

7:00-9:00 p.m. | Second Floor (MODA)

Drop-in experience

The MODA studio will be activated with a special pop-up installation featuring film stills, cinematic works and an immersive installation.

7:30-9:00 pm | Third Floor (Gallery East)

Rooted & Resonant

Join Sir Abstraxxx and Bryan Patterson Jr. (Stay Cozy Studios) for a 90 minute-long poetic and musical experience set within the powerful exhibition, a’driane nieves: A Time for Furious Dancing.

This intimate performance is a reflection on movement, culture, and identity — where spoken word and saxophone intertwine to echo the spirit of the diaspora.

7:30-8:30 pm | Second Floor (Performance Suite)

Five Stages of Gullah Heritage: Palmetto Tutorial with Corey Alston, Gullah Sweetgrass Baskets

This presentation is designed to educate attendees about the vibrant culture of the Gullah people, whose heritage dates back to the 1600s in the Carolina region. The event features a Q&A session and a fun activity where participants can create their own palmetto rose, a symbol of preservation of ancestral traditions passed down through generations.

7:00 p.m.-8:30 pm | Fourth Floor

Trivia For Us: "A Mind Game for the Culture"

Founded by longtime friends and HBCU graduates, Deydra Bringas and Shakira Hodges, Trivia For Us was born from a desire to create a welcoming, culture-driven trivia experience. After attending trivia nights in their gentrified Brooklyn hometown where they often felt excluded, they decided to change the game.

Participants are invited to “A Mind Game for the Culture”, a dynamic live trivia experience hosted by Trivia For Us. Get ready to explore Across the Diaspora — test your knowledge, celebrate culture, and connect through play. Participants can join the fun on their mobile devices for a chance to win prizes!

And if you want to take the game home, The Trivia For Us Card Game offers engaging, culturally relevant fun for homes, classrooms, and corporate spaces. You can now find it at The Harvey B. Gantt Center Store!

8:00.-9:00 pm | Second Floor (Hewitt Gallery)

Dance activation with Tamara Williams and Luciano Xavier da Silva

This community activation shares dance forms created and inspired by the descendants of the Yoruba, Angola, Bakongo, and Akan people of West and Central Africa – that have been persevered in the Americas through Shouting and Orisha traditions.

Join us for a fun and energetic class steeped in traditional dances that symbolize elements of nature (earth, water, air, and fire). Participants will experience "Shouting" and movements of the Orixá (Brazil) traditions. Come prepared to engage in movement and wear comfortable clothes!

9:00-11:00 p.m. Second Floor and Rooftop/Fourth Floor

We're turning up the heat with two live DJs spinning the best in Afrobeats, R&B, Amapiano, and Hip-Hop.

Whether you're vibing inside or dancing under the stars, this is the place to be. Come for the music, stay for the energy.