afr am festival overview

Afr'Am FestivalSoutheastern Virginia Arts Association

“Celebrating the Essence of Family”

Afr’Am Festival

A three day festival that celebrates

African-American arts and culture in the Hampton Roads

Region.

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For more than 25 years, the Southeastern Virginia Arts Association has sponsored Afr’Am Fest, one of the regions’ oldest and largest festivals. Boasting more than 200,000 visitors annually, Afr’Am Festival has become a “destination” vacation for many around the country.

SEVAA supports five disciplines of art. . .

Fine Arts

Music

Dance Literary

Theater

Featured areas of the festival include. . .

Mattie’s Marketplace

A staple of the festival, Mattie’s Place encourages minority business owners to exhibit their products and services.Today there are more than 823,500 black owned businesses in the U.S. employing more than 718,300 people and generating an excess of $71.2 billion in revenues.Afr’Am is committed to promoting the entrepreneurial spirit in the African-American community.

Parade

Afr’Am Festival begins each year with a grand processional which is a display of the festival’s splendor. Area drill teams, marching bands and other groups display their talents down Main Street. After paying homage to the ancestors and the pouring of libation, Afr’Am Festival Weekend begins!

Children’s Village

The Children’s Village is Afr’Am’s tribute to the past and a celebration of the future! With engaging arts and crafts, face painting, storytellers, magicians, and clowns there is something for both old and young!

Literary Cafe

“Reading is a Family Affair!”

In 2008, Afr’Am launched its literacy campaign, “Reading is a Family Affair!” The goal of this initiative is to encourage more families to read at home. Afr’Am Fest features literary events throughout the year featuring self-published along side nationally recognized authors.

In the Literary Café you will find good books, interesting discussion, and authors galore!

Health Awareness

Afr’Am Festival strives to entertain, enlighten and educate. The festival lends itself as an information resource for educating the community about risks and preventative methods of major diseases that affect African-Americans. The annual blood drive remains a central part of the festival. And Afr’Am Festival will continue to be a vehicle for increasing the percentage of blood donors in the African-American community.

Fine Arts

A pinnacle of the festival, the Fine Arts area is one of the most renown African-American art shows in the country. Each year, the Fine Arts area features a Juried Art Show, showing artists of varying disciplines from around the country.

Food

Afr’Am Festival features some of the most delectable cuisine in the area. Our food vendors range from cultural cuisine to traditional American fare.

ENTERTAINMENT

Afr’Am Festival features local, regional and national acts all on three stages. Featuring rhythm and blues, jazz, gospel, funk, “old school” and traditional African music that will saturate your soul and spark nostalgia.

The success of Afr’Am Festival lies on our partnerships with our corporate sponsors and community volunteers.

DemographicsSpectators

55% Female / 45% Male

20% age 12 – 17

30% age 18 – 24

50% age 25-54

Spectator’s Income

Under $20K – 13%

$20K-$40K – 30%

$40K-$50K – 12%

$50K-$75K – 24%

$75K-$100K – 13%

$100K+ - 8%

Contact Us

Mr. Mark C. MadisonProject DirectorAfr’Am Festival

c/o Southeastern Virginia Arts Association

PO Box 366Norfolk, VA 23501

(757) 639-7054www.afram-fest.info