The annual Black Arts Matter (BAM) Festival will return to Madison for a fourth year 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 United States.
University of Wisconsin-–Madison alumna and award-winning poet, actor and artist Shasparay founded the BAM Festival in 2019 while earning her undergraduate degree in theatre from UW–Madison, and continues to serve as its artistic director. She co-produces and co-presents the BAM Festival with the Wisconsin Union Theater (WUT).
(Photo by Amadou Kromah)
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.
New BAM events, according to a press release from the Wisconsin Union Theater, include a gallery exhibition featuring the artist who created BAM’s visuals; a youth talent competition; the BAM Art Market; and the welcome reception where the community is invited to kick off the celebration and try this year’s signature beverage, BAMalicious, which will have a non-alcoholic option and be available in Shannon Sunset Lounge prior to most of the BAM Festival events taking place in Shannon Hall.
The full BAM Festival lineup can be seen by clicking here.
