"The purpose of art is to lay bare the questions that have been hidden by the answers."

— James Baldwin

The birth of tap dance during enslavement. The genesis of the Harlem Renaissance. The creation of hip hop. New York City has become a cultural capital of the world based on the art and creativity of Black and Brown youth.

Our question has always been: “How can we create a cultural ecosystem where young Black and Brown Artists can see a future pursuing their passion?”

During February and March 2024, a citywide youth design competition was held. Artists visited Weeksville, Lefferts House and the Flatbush African Burial Ground to learn about its history, and were mentored by community artists and designers.

Three youth artists of color were selected and awarded $1000 based on their creativity and vision.

The artwork produced by these talented young artists has been printed on aluminum signage in partnership with New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) and will be installed along Flatbush Avenue, creating a Black History + Heritage Corridor connecting two significant sites in Black history: Lefferts Historic House and the Flatbush African Burial Ground.

Our online shop will launch this fall featuring postcards, poster prints and other merchandise for which the winners will receive proceeds.

2024 Youth Design Competition Winners

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2024 Youth Design Competition Winners *

"Know Who You Are"

Jojo Buchmann, 20
"If a person isn’t in harmony with themselves, how are they going to be in harmony with others? Authenticity, Emotional Maturity, Having an Open Mind & Unconditional Love are vital to a unified society that uplifts one another. If we want to feel whole we need to see past the external and look within.
Art and introspection have helped me gain these qualities which have improved my outlook on life. If we can see art as a gateway to transforming our perspectives, imagine how much change can happen in one individual, and then imagine society as a whole.
When we positively transform ourselves, it sends a ripple effect that gives others permission to do so as well. "
"Portal"

Lorraine Colbert, 24
“To memorialize the history of the Flatbush African Burial Ground through youth engagement and artmaking gives me a sense of pride and hope for the future of Black communities to rise through the urban circumstances set before them.
There is power in our ability to connect our present selves with our past peoples and lands, and in New York City, we don’t have to look very far, because Black history and space is all around us.
Portal reminds me of this. That even when I feel disconnected from the city I call home as it changes, I can still be inspired to revive what has been forgotten.”
"Reclamation" / "Eve's Garden"

Astra Baker, 20
"Art is a silent universal language which is why making art is important to me. There’s a fervent artistic spirit that I believe through God, I was gifted with. It specifically sparks when I get to use my artistic vision for activism reasons. What caused me to make this piece was for this competition, although genuinely, this feels far from meaningless art made for the sole focus on winning. By far, the process of making this was a gift for me.
As it was from me, being able to share this with the African Burial Ground as an attestation of how the majority of Black people feel about our ancestors. I ensured my conviction of just how important my piece ‘Eve’s Garden’ is to me by translating it into thorough thoughts and intentional actions within each paint stroke, art choice, construction of the historical figure’s faces and my 3D additions.
When I think about art, especially in relation to our Black community, I think of the Black Arts Movement of the 1980’s and the Harlem Renaissance. Both are evidence of art being used to impact change in society by the significance of this universal language. Not only did these art movements lead to progressive societal aftermaths but the feelings that were released during their time and still today are timeless feelings that evokes when our stories are told by us, in salute to us, through our own art, which is a leading factor in impacting change in our society.
Art can be a shared insight for the changes we want to see in society."