Arts and Culture in the Gardens

The Arts & Culture in the Gardens Series (AACG) series offers multiple options for residents of “The Gardens” to engage in high-quality cultural arts experiences with professional artists. Arts & Culture in The Gardens acknowledges the significance of traditional African arts as a cultural framework for understanding social traditions that can bridge the gap of space and time to positively impact those who experience and learn from ancient folkloric, yet artistic, genres.

The series aligns to holidays of significance to the intended audience including Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Black History Month, and Juneteenth. All events take place in Miami Gardens at Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Complex.

Arts & Culture in the Gardens includes three events:

- Big Mask Fest - January 14. 2023 - The Big Mask Festival highlights authentic mask traditions of Africa and the Caribbean and engages audiences in multi-disciplinary cultural experiences including; Nanfoule African Folklore Society’s African Mask in Motion: A Live Demonstration of African Mask Traditions, From Under the Mask Art Exhibit featuring the artwork of South Florida African American and Caribbean Artists, Delou Africa Dance and Drum Ensemble performance, and art activities for children & teens. The event is hosted by the Delou Djali Society who also will perform Spoken Word and Storytelling. The Big Mask Fest acknowledges the significance of mask traditions as a cultural framework and positive impact for those who experience and learn from this ancient folkloric, yet artistic, genre.

- Art & Storytelling in the Garden - February 25, 2023-Participants work together in family groups to create African Instruments and write a brief family narrative. The family stories are combined to create a unique community tale accompanied by music they produce with their newly created instruments.

- Family West African Dance & Drum class in The Garden - June 18,2023 - “If you can talk you can sing. If you can walk you can dance.” African Proverb Delou Africa Dance Ensemble hosts families for an intergenerational Drum and Dance class in celebration of Juneteenth & Father’s Day. Classes are taught by professional guest artists and affirms the African belief that African Dance and Drum is not just for dancers and drummers but was created for the community to interact through positive social and cultural connections.