© 2025 WUTC
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
WUTC is experiencing intermittent outages this week due to weather-related equipment damage. Read more here.

A Year Of Celebration For Black Arts And Ideas In Chattanooga

Neshawn Calloway as Bessie Smith.
Chattanooga Festivals of Black Arts & Ideas
Neshawn Calloway as Bessie Smith.

What began seven years ago as a one-day festival to commemorate Juneteenth here in Chattanooga - at the time, the only event of its kind in this city - is now a year-long series of festivals that celebrates the Black experience across the arts.

The series begins Friday with the Black Wall Street RBG Ball, starting at 6 PM at the Mac Avenue Event Space at 1304 McCallie Avenue.

Ric Morris is founder and CEO of the Chattanooga Festivals of Black Arts and Ideas.

Banner for Black Wall St. RBG Ball 2025.
Chattanooga Festivals of Black Arts & Ideas
Banner for Indaba Conference 2025.
Chattanooga Festivals of Black Arts & Ideas
Banner for Black Artists Network & Directory.
Chattanooga Festivals of Black Arts & Ideas
Banner for the James Festival of Words 2025.
Chattanooga Festivals of Black Arts & Ideas

Ray is the host and producer of "Scenic Roots" - Mondays through Thursdays at 3 PM - and WUTC's Editorial Director.
Related Content
  • A year of celebration for Black arts and ideas in Chattanooga. “Illustrating a Point” through cartoons & comics at Stove Works. Le Gato: Next at Riverfront Nights in downtown Chattanooga. As you’ll hear - and more - on this episode of “Scenic Roots.”
  • Here in Chattanooga, SPLASH Youth Arts Workshop provides free arts workshops year-round for youth in this city’s underserved communities. On Saturday, August 16th, SPLASH’s Summer Arts Festival returns to Miller Park.
  • In contemporary art, comics, cartoons and illustrations can express what other creative forms may struggle to convey. That’s the focus of “Illustrating a Point” - an exhibit at Stove Works here in Chattanooga, opening Friday.
  • Adam Stone and Noah Prince are two of the members of Le Gato, a funk-rock group with roots in jazz, progressive rock and jam music - and this weekend's local opening act for Riverfront Nights, starting at 6 PM at Ross' Landing in downtown Chattanooga.