Irrepressible Soul x Black Future Month

Irrepressible Soul x Black Future Month will be a continuation of the model and activations created by the Irrepressible Soul Art Collective in June of 2023. Irrepressible Soul was a month-long celebration of Black art and culture, sponsored by The Ohio State University, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Office of Engagement that took place at Urban Arts Space and in the surrounding Columbus community. The Irrepressible Soul project raised approximately $50,000 in grant funding; featured a visually immersive exhibition with 26 Black artists; and coordinated 12 responsive community programs. Events included a panel discussion around the direction of Black art; a Black health and wellness event at the Columbus Commons that utilized a holistic approach to wellness and innovative practices in the Black community; and a“Juneteenth on the Ave.” celebration in collaboration with Maroon Arts Group that honored the 50th anniversary of hip-hop through art historical archiving and tech immersion in the historically Black Bronzeville neighborhood. Irrepressible Soul utilized a combination of arts-based research, action research, and emergent theory to guide its conceptual underpinning and theoretical approach. Theproject will be discussed as a model for promoting creative sustainable collaboration andarts equity at the Engagement Scholarship Consortium Conference at Michigan StateUniversity and the Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities (A2RU) Conference atPenn State University.