Get excited because Free First Thursdays return on March 2, 2023 with “Carnivale,” a night celebrating the culture of the African diaspora at the Montclair Art Museum. The event will include an art activity with Yard School of Art Instructor Mansa Mussa, a guided tour of vanessa german: …please imagine all the things i cannot say… by an expert in African/African American art, a market of Black-owned businesses, a performance by the Caribbean Ensemble from the Cali School of Music, and a major performance by the African dance group Kofago. All of this in addition to the Museum being open for free courtesy of TD Bank, as well as a cash bar and food trucks. Stay tuned for more information!

Program:

MASK-MAKING & BEADING WORKSHOP

5–9 p.m. | Geyer Studio

Art Activity with MAM art instructor Mansa Mussa.

AFRO-CARIBBEAN ENSEMBLE FROM THE JOHN J. CALI SCHOOL OF MUSIC

5–7:30 P.M. | Leir Hall

Enjoy uplifting music during the first half of Free First Thursday: Carnevale.

GUIDED TOUR OF VANESSA GERMAN:...PLEASE IMAGINE ALL THE THINGS I CANNOT SAY...

6–7 p.m. | Meet at Cornerstone Café

We will be offering a number of docent-led tours of our newest exhibition, vanessa german:...please imagine all the things i cannot say...More information on when each tour will begin to come.

ONE LOVE CULTURED KIDS’ POSTER CONTEST

7:30 p.m. | Leir Hall

Works submitted in the Montclair Black Coalition (MBC) Black History Month Poster Competition will be on display in the Museum’s Arcade Gallery. Winners of the student-centered competition will be acknowledged in a small ceremony at 7:30 p.m. on the Leir Hall stage.

KOFAGO DANCE ENSEMBLE

7:45 p.m. | Leir Hall

Enjoy a performance by Kofago Dance Ensemble, coming to MAM from Jamaica, NY. Kofago Dance Ensemble creates innovative works that draw from traditional dances from West Africa, Caribbean dance forms, as well as modern pieces based on West African and Caribbean principles of Movement and space.