National Center for the Arts There has been criticism over the plans for the first ever black out night scheduled during (NAC) black History Month,
“Black Out is an open invitation to Black audiences to come and experience Exhibition of with their community. The evening will provide a dedicated space for Black theater-goers to view a show that reflects the vivid kaleidoscope that is the Black experience,” its website states.
Display is god “Black audiences will be welcome to experience and enjoy the performance at the Babs Asper Theater on February 17,” it says.
The suggestion that the show is aimed at black audiences was criticized by several American right-wing media outlets, and by the Daily Mail in the United Kingdom, which published a story with the headline, “Canada’s top taxpayer-funded theater rages drama”. ‘Blacks only’ demonstration of, which prevents white and Asian people from participating.
“I think the sad thing about it is we’re not talking about the arts … It feels like it’s a distraction,” said Rose-Ingrid Benjamin, community connections lead for the NAC. .
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Benjamin attended a Black Out event in Toronto last May and says she was inspired to do the same in Ottawa.
“I’m an actor myself. I’ve gone on stage and looked around and didn’t see anyone who looked like me. I’ve been in the audience and seen incredible shows and even had moments where I’m like , I’m laughing at the joke, but nobody else gets it because it’s a culturally-specific moment,” she said.
“That’s how it started. I was like, I really want to do this,” she said.
Responding to the controversy, Kondwani Mwase, Executive Director of Audience Engagement at NAC said that there are many shows targeting specific communities and this is no different.
“We have programs for a younger audience, we have a program focused on women, we have a program focused on youth, so it’s all peaking at the energy that we have, which is, ‘We love more. How to write letter. For communities, especially those that are underserved?’” he said.
“And so when Rose-Ingrid brought that energy and that opportunity, we felt it was the right thing to do.”
According to the website Blackoutnite.com, black out is “the purposeful creation of an environment in which all-black-identifying audiences can experience and discuss a phenomenon in performing arts, film, athletic and cultural venues—free of the white gaze.” .
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“The first one that was out was on Broadway, which was in 2019, and it was for a play slave gameAnd this Jeremy O. Harris was the one who did it on Broadway and since then there have been others that have happened around the world,” Mase said.
“There are a lot of different theater houses that have done this kind of outreach, you can invite audiences if you want.”
“I think one of the benefits is that there are times when it’s really important to have people who have experiences and like issues and talk about what it means to them. come together to share, come together to heal, come together to find common solutions which might be a little more challenging if they were doing it in a group that was much more diverse,” said historian and author Rosemary Sadlier.
He called the NAC’s criticism of the upcoming Black Out Night “unfair”.
“I think people are taking a cheap shot and using the misunderstanding of segregation,” she said. “When people gather together on an ad hoc or a purposeful moment, such as going to the theatre, that segregation Not there .”
Speaking to Global News from a Black History Month event, she said, “What better time for Black people to purposefully come together to talk about some of the losses and find some ways of healing?”
Later this month, Theater Passe Murrell in Toronto will also host Black Out Night.
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Its website states, “Black Out Nights are performances specifically for Black audiences … The spirit behind these evenings is to provide Black theater goers a place to experience theater in a space created for them.” “
The artistic director said he was surprised to hear that black out events were stirring up controversy, given the positive response his theater had received in the past.
“I find it a bit strange because our communities have responded in such a positive way. Certainly our audience has been very, very welcoming and understanding,” said Indrit Kasapi.
“It recognizes the need for these events even more because it speaks to the lack of understanding that we as human beings have with each other… It highlights the need for more blacked out nights, but marginalized Space for living communities and also space for necessity to gather and feel safe,” he said.
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is god The NAC has its first black out night, but its website states that it will be “an ongoing engagement initiative”, adding “everyone is welcome to all of our shows.”
“This is really an invitation to black communities to come and experience NAC and the community. No one is being turned away. This is not about exclusion,” Benjamin said.
“It’s about celebration, it’s about art … It’s about allowing a community that may not always feel safe or comfortable or welcome to know that you’re not only welcome Yes, this is your place, we thought of you.”
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