Newark Symphony Hall, New Jersey’s largest and oldest Black arts institution, is proud to announce that it will host the city’s first-ever Black Creative Economy Summit from June 20-22, as part of the state’s North to Shore Conference. The three-day event aims to foster investment opportunities for artists in technology, film, media and performing arts, while promoting the power of the Black creative economy.

The Black Creative Economy Summit, hosted in partnership with Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District, Newark Arts and City of Newark Division of Arts & Cultural Affairs, will feature a diverse lineup of sessions and events designed to empower and inspire creatives at every stage of their careers. The schedule includes the following:

Day 1, June 20: Convene – The summit kicks off with the grand opening reception of the newly restored Terrace Ballroom, an exclusive event bringing artists, industry leaders and investors together to network in the venue once filled with legendary performers.

Day 2, June 21: Collaborate – Attendees will enjoy a free concert presented by The Other Side of Newark, as well as discover and engage in insightful sessions led by local and industry leaders, propelling creativity and collaboration.

– Know Your Stage – Networking breakfast.
– Lifting Voices Through the Power of Art & Storytelling – Panel moderated by Aisha Glover, vice president of urban innovation at Audible.
– Thriving in the Arts – Fireside chat led by Newark Symphony Hall.
– Developing While Black (DWB): Creative Placemaking for the – Culture – Fireside chat led by Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District.
– Own the Culture – Keynote address by David Banner, Grammy Award-winning rapper, record producer and philanthropist.
– Revolutionizing Content Consumption – Featuring the founders of Polaris, the first Black-owned, free-ad supporting streaming channel.
– Straight to the Money – Fireside chat led by Newark Arts.
– Funder’s Speed Dating – 1:1 sessions with regional art investors.

Day 3, June 22: Connect – A night of networking, creativity and humor to close out the Black Creative Economy Summit experience.

– Behind the Scenes & Artist Mixer – music, cocktails courtesy of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey & private tour of Newark Symphony Hall’s production ability.
– Bob Sumner Comedy Tour Show – a Newark International Film Festival feature.

“The Black Creative Economy Summit is designed to acknowledge the financial impact of artists and promote ownership while celebrating the rich heritage and contributions of Black creators in Newark, throughout New Jersey and beyond,” shares Talia L. Young, president and CEO of Newark Symphony Hall. “The event will provide a platform for artists, industry professionals and investors to come together, exchange ideas and drive positive change within creative industries.”

The Summit will feature a distinguished lineup of speakers from diverse career backgrounds, including:
– The Honorable Mayor Ras J. Baraka, City of Newark, NJ
– Andrew Binger, artistic director, Yendor Theatre Company.
– David Banner, Grammy Award-winning rapper, record producer and philanthropist
– David Byer-Tyre, scholar, professional artist and educator
– Jean Pierre Brutus, senior counsel, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice
– Lyvan Munlyn, charge scenic artist, Creative Producer
– Jeffrey Page, Emmy-nominated director and choreographer
– Marjorie Perry, president and CEO, MZM Construction & Management Company, Inc.
– Sharnita C. Johnson, vice president of strategy, impact and communication, Victoria Foundation
– Shaheem Reid, author, journalist and co-founder of Polaris
– Anthony Smith, executive director, Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District
– Alysia Souder, executive director of the Institute of Music for Children in Elizabeth NJ
– Sway, American journalist, radio personality and executive producer
– Lenny The Barber, film, concert and event producer
– Chris Watson, director of planning and development services, Murphy Schiller & Wilkes LLP
– Talia Young, president and CEO, Newark Symphony Hall

Proudly sponsored by United Airlines, Newark Arts, Audible, NJEDA, Prudential, Newark Alliance, City of Newark Division of Arts & Cultural Affairs, North to Shore and Newark Happenings, the Black Creative Economy Summit will celebrate the vibrant and diverse talent of Black creators.

To purchase tickets and for more information on the Black Creative Economy Summit, please visit newarksymphonyhall.org/events/black-creative-economy/.

About Newark Symphony Hall
Born in 1925, Newark Symphony Hall (NSH) has been the home of almost a century of arts and culture in what is now one of New Jersey’s oldest and largest arts and entertainment venues. NSH remains as committed as ever to providing an artistically rich experience for art lovers of all ages, while creating career pathways for people of color from around the world – and bettering both its community and the Greater Newark region. The venue recently began production on “The Soul of Newark Symphony Hall,” its celebration of “Black Newark” developed by scholar and composer Guthrie Ramsey, told through narration, reenactments, music and cinematic and photographic montage. Its “Symphony of Survival,” a creative project led by Newark poet Jasmine Mans as part of the venue’s #EmbraceNewark initiative, features writings, footage and photos by 10 talented local Black artists documenting their pandemic experience.

For more information about Newark Symphony Hall visit NewarkSymphonyHall.org and follow @NewarkSymphonyHall on Instagram and Facebook and @NwkSymphonyHall on Twitter.

About Newark Arts
Newark Arts’ mission is to power the arts to transform lives. Established in 1981 as the Newark Arts Council, the organization’s vision is to become a nationally recognized catalyst for the collaborative power of the arts in the City of Newark and urban America. Newark Arts is the producer of Newark Creates, a community-led citywide cultural plan, created in partnership with the City of Newark. Newark Arts’ key initiatives include Arts Education Newark, the ArtStart community grantmaking program, and the Newark Arts Festival. Newark Arts is generously supported by Prudential Financial, the City of Newark, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Victoria Foundation, Turrell Fund, Bank of America, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, Mellon Foundation, Hanini Group, TD Bank, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Panasonic, M&T Bank, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, PSEG, and individuals, businesses and institutions.

To keep up-to-date on all the latest news from Newark Arts, sign up for our newsletter at newarkarts.org and follow @Newark_Arts on Twitter and @NewarkArts on Facebook and Instagram.

About Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District
The Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District, Inc. (LPCCD) is a non-profit organization actively engaged in the practice of economic development through Creative Placemaking. Its mission to plan, design and develop a comprehensive arts and cultural district in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of downtown Newark. Once dominated by dilapidated buildings and vacant lots, the neighborhood is being transformed through LPCCD’s efforts into a “sustainable” arts and cultural district. This redevelopment includes “green” mixed-income housing, an annual music festival and historic preservation projects. LPCCD has completed more than 100 units of housing, and has provided new housing and employment opportunities for a diverse population. LPCCD is well on its way to creating a fully productive, mixed-use neighborhood. LPCCD’s main arts & culture programs are the annual Lincoln Park Music Festival; Lincoln Park Music Speaks citywide humanities initiative; the Lincoln Park Jazzy Soul music series; the Lincoln Park Youth Arts Collective arts education program; its Lincoln Park Gallery Without Walls public art mobile outdoor gallery; and the Lincoln Park Sustainable Living Community Podcast.

For more information about Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District, connect with @LincolnParkCoastCulturalDistrict on Facebook; follow @LPCCD on IG; and @LPCCD on Twitter or visit: lpccd.org.