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Arts Council Seeks to Increase Representation in Communities of Color with Blacklit Book Fair

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It’s a celebration of African American authors in North Carolina. The Arts Council of Fayetteville | Cumberland County (Arts Council) presents the BlackLIT Book Fair powered by Piedmont Natural Gas that is an intentional effort to motivate, highlight, reaffirm, and empower cultures and the younger generation by making literacy relatable and relevant in communities of color. The BlackLIT Book Fair will take place on Saturday, March 5, 2022, from 10AM to 5PM at The Arts Center, 301 Hay Street, Fayetteville, NC. The book fair is free and open to the public to attend.

Featuring Nia-Tayler Clark, CEO and Founder of BlackLIT and Fayetteville State University alumnae, the BlackLIT Book Fair will showcase the literary works of talented African American authors who are determined to keep a love for literacy present in our community. Programming features include:

10am - 12n
Children's Read-Aloud
Presented by Fort Bragg Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.


Closing the literacy gap in our community, the BlackLIT Book Fair: Children's Read-Aloud will inspire children and their parents to learn, grow, and explore the world through the pages of a book. A host of storytellers will stimulate children's imagination by expanding their understanding of the world, building foundational and developmental skills, and learning through expressive reading.

Free Book Voucher

Each attending child will receive a BlackLIT Book Voucher for 1 FREE CHILDREN'S BOOK of their choice from participating vendors (limited value and while supplies last).

12n - 5p
BlackLIT Book Fair


The general book fair activities will showcase a talented pool of African American authors displaying their diverse selections of literary works: fiction, poetry, self-help, children’s, behavioral and mental health, romance, empowerment, and more.

Literary Cafe
Presented by Rude Awakening Coffee House


Authors and literary enthusiasts can engage in casual conversations over a cup of coffee and other light refreshments while enjoying poetic expressionists as they read excerpts from their books.

3p - 4p
Professional Writers Panel


Emerging and established authors of color will hear from a host of literary professionals that will provide information and guidance around the business of writing and publishing. Moderator, Shakeyla Ingram, will navigate the panel through various topics that will include information regarding publishing, distribution, legal, access to grant funding, access to small business loans, and other aspects of artist development. A Q&A session will follow the panel discussion.

For more information about the BlackLIT Book Fair, visit: https://www.WeAreTheARTS.com/blacklit.

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INTERVIEWS:

All media is cordially invited to attend the BlackLIT Book Fair. BlackLIT CEO Nia-Tayler Clark, panel moderator Shakeyla Ingram, and a host of featured authors, storytellers, and poets will be on-site for interview opportunities. RSVP not required.

To interview a representative of the Arts Council, email interview questions to:

Christy McNeil, Director of Marketing
christym@theartscouncil.com

(allow 24 hours for written responses)

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About the Arts Council of Fayetteville | Cumberland County

The Arts Council of Fayetteville | Cumberland County is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization based in Fayetteville, NC that supports individual creativity, cultural preservation, economic development, and lifelong learning through the ARTS. As a primary steward of public and private funding for arts, cultural, and historical activities in the Cape Fear Region, all affiliated programs of the Arts Council exemplify our 5 core values: Excellence, Accountability, Transparency, Collaborations, and Innovation.

Since 1973, the Arts Council has served as a link between artists, arts and cultural organizations, and the greater community by administering programs in partnership with a variety of local agencies to help advance community and economic growth, stimulate tourism, reinforce child education through the ARTS, and enhance the cultural identity of the arts and entertainment district.

Grants, programs, and services of the Arts Council are funded in part by contributions from community partners, and through grants from the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County, and the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources. www.ncarts.org

BlackLIT Book Fair, The Arts Council of Fayetteville

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