"Raise Our Voices" Spoken Word Workshops

In its current exhibit of photographs by Keith Calhoun and Chandra McCormick, called Slavery, the Prison Industrial Complex, the Hilliard University Art Museum invites the community to contemplate themes of criminal justice, incarceration, and the modern prison system. 

Now, the museum, in a partnership with the Harambee Event Center and the Lafayette Public Library, asks us to go one step further. In a series of free spoken-word workshops, hosted by artist and poet Alex "PoeticSoul" Johnson, creatives and students alike are invited to articulate their thoughts and to vocally respond to issues of justice. 

The workshops are supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council, as administered by the Regional Arts Council. Funding has also been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts. 

Workshops will be held on the following dates, with free bus transportation provided: 

February 20: Hilliard University Art Museum, 6 pm–8 pm. Bus pick up at Harambee Event Center at 5:30 pm. 

February 27: Harambee Event Center, 6:30 pm–8 pm. Bus pick up at the Hilliard University Art Museum at 6 pm. 

March 13: Harambee Event Center, 6:30 pm–8 pm. Bus pick up at the Hilliard University Art Museum at 6 pm. 

March 23: Lafayette Public Library-South, 10:30 am–12:30 pm. Bus pickup at Harambee Event Center at 10 am. 

March 27: Harambee Event Center, 6:30 pm–8 pm. Bus pick up at the Hilliard University Art Museum at 6 pm. 

April 3: Harambee Event Center, 6:30 pm–8 pm. Bus pick up at the Hilliard University Art Museum at 6 pm. 

Spoken word performances will be held on the following dates, with free bus transportation provided: 

April 17: Hilliard University Art Museum, 6 pm–7:30 pm. Bus pick up at Harambee Event Center at 5:30 pm. 

April 20: Harambee Event Center, 7 pm–8:30 pm. Bus pick up at Hilliard University Art Museum at 6:30 pm. 

April 23: Lafayette Public Library-South, 6 pm–7:30 pm. Bus pick up at Harambee Event center 5:30 pm. 

hilliardmuseum.org.