The annual Black Arts Matter (BAM) Festival returns for a fourth year to Madison from Nov. 8–12. The BAM Festival will include live music, visual art, stand-up comedy, a vendor market, and a poetry slam competition featuring slam champions from across the U.S.
UW–Madison alumna and award-winning poet, actor, and artist Shasparay founded the BAM Festival in 2019 and continues to serve as its artistic director. She co-produces and co-presents the BAM Festival with the Wisconsin Union Theater (WUT).
The full festival lineup includes:
- Nov. 8 — A public welcome reception with DJ Femme Noir at 5:30 p.m. in the Shannon Sunset Lounge at Memorial Union; a viewing of the “Apologetically BLK” exhibition by Mawhyah Milton at 6 p.m. in the Class of 1925 Gallery at Memorial Union; and an artist talk with Milton, moderated by Shasparay at 7 p.m. in the Play Circle at Memorial Union;
- Nov. 9 — Comedy by Emmy-winning comedian Jerrod Carmichael at 9 p.m. in Shannon Hall at Memorial Union;
- Nov. 10 — All-Star Poetry Slam featuring more than a dozen of the country’s top poets at 7:30 p.m. in Shannon Hall at Memorial Union;
- Nov. 11 — Live music by New Orleans-based, Grammy-nominated R&B band Tank and the Bangas at 7:30 p.m. in Shannon Hall at Memorial Union; and
- Nov. 12 — The Black Arts Matter Youth Talent Competition at 2 p.m. at MYArts and the BAM Art Market, an art and vendor market at 11 a.m. at MYArts.
The BAM Festival is made possible in part with support from the Wisconsin Union, the Wisconsin Alumni Association, the Evjue Foundation, Dane Arts, the Madison Arts Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Division of the Arts.
Patrons can learn more about the BAM Festival and purchase tickets to festival events online.
