Black History Month is usually commemorated with events celebrating the social and cultural impact of black culture in America. One prominent event in Indiana has been the Art and Soul program put on annually by the Arts Council of Indianapolis.
For 25 years the event has hosted over 2,000 people downtown to celebrate Black art and music. Typically, the event is held at the Artsgarden in Indianapolis, and the program has helped bring awareness and appreciation to African American culture.
This year, in conjunction with Indy Jazz Fest and the Asante Art Institute of Indianapolis, the Arts Council will produce the program all virtually. This decision was made due to restrictions created by COVID-19.
The theme this year is “Art & Soul: Black by Popular Demand” and will feature visual artists, singers and instrumentalists all month long. In all, there will be 16 performances spread throughout the month.
Some performances can be viewed on WISH-TV’s Facebook page every Tuesday and Friday at 12:15 p.m. until Feb. 26. And while in-person attendance will not be permitted this year, people can still find highlights of the program at www.IndyArtandSoul.com by WISH-TV. The full performances can also be found on the Arts Council’s website at www.indyarts.org.