WS Chronicle

The doors of the Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness will open to the sound of drums, voices, and stories that stretch across centuries from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on February 7. Winston-Salem residents are invited to gather for the first annual Festival of African-American Arts and Culture, a free community celebration marking Black History Month 2026.

Presented by 40+ Stage Company, the festival centers on a powerful theme: honoring what was rooted in Africa and uniquely cultivated in America. Throughout the day, the stage will come alive with performances by local individuals and groups sharing song, music, dance, poetry, spoken word, and drumming—each act a thread in a larger cultural tapestry.

Beyond the stage, visual storytelling will take center place. An art exhibition curated by the Delta Arts Center will spotlight local visual artists, while a special display of theatrical costumes designed by award-winning artist Frenchie Laverne Slade will highlight the intersection of fashion, history, and performance.

Education and reflection are woven into the day’s offerings. Betsy Messick of the Sawtooth Center for Visual Arts will lead two presentations—one exploring the legacy of quilt maker Faith Ringgold, and another examining the work of painter Romare Bearden—connecting art history to contemporary creativity.

Youth voices will also be heard through short films created by local graduates of the Just Us program, produced under the creative direction of Nathan Ross Freeman, artistic director of Authoring Action. The films reflect how the next generation is interpreting culture, identity, and community through their own lenses.

Food will be available for purchase from Black Coffee and Cuisine, and convenient free parking is available in the off-street lot near the center entrance at 114 West 30th Street.

The full performance lineup will be announced closer to the festival date at 40plusstage.com. For now, organizers encourage the community to mark their calendars and plan to spend the day immersed in art, history, and shared experience.

In a city shaped by resilience and creativity, the Festival of African-American Arts and Culture offers more than entertainment—it offers a living reminder of where the culture comes from, how it has grown, and why it continues to matter.