Juneteenth at Delta Arts Center: Building Bridges Through Song, A Night with the Opera, and the Juneteenth Celebration

This Juneteenth season, Delta Arts Center welcomed the community to a series of events that honored Black history, celebrated artistic excellence, and strengthened partnerships across Winston-Salem. Through visual art, music, photography, and conversation, each program reflected the enduring spirit of Juneteenth while reaffirming Delta's commitment to preserving and celebrating African American culture.

Building Bridges Through Song

The celebration began with Building Bridges, a community-centered event that brought people together through song. The Juneteenth Celebration of Song and Spoken Word brought together musicians, poets, and community members in recognition of freedom, resilience, and hope. Performances reflected the rich traditions of African American storytelling, gospel, jazz, and spoken word, reminding audiences that art has long served as both a record of history and a vision for the future.

The event created space for reflection while celebrating the creativity and voices that continue to shape our community.

African Queens with Karen Slack

Delta Arts Center was honored to partner with Piedmont Opera alongside Triad Cultural Arts and NC Black Rep to present internationally acclaimed soprano Karen Slack in a performance of African Queens.

The performance celebrated the stories and legacies of influential African queens through powerful music that blended history, culture, and extraordinary artistry. This collaboration demonstrated the strength of Winston-Salem's arts community, bringing together multiple organizations to present a nationally recognized artist and offer audiences an unforgettable cultural experience.

Capturing Community Through Photography

During Winston-Salem's Juneteenth Festival, photographer Stephen Hurst partnered with Delta Arts Center and Triad Cultural Arts to create an open-air portrait studio in Bailey Park. Throughout the day, Hurst invited festival attendees to step in front of the camera, creating portraits that celebrated the diversity, pride, and humanity of the people who make up our community.

Rather than documenting the festival from a distance, the project centered individuals and families, preserving authentic moments that reflect the joy and significance of Juneteenth. Each portrait serves as both a work of art and a historical document, capturing a community continuing to write its own story.

Continuing the Legacy

This Juneteenth season demonstrated what is possible when artists, cultural organizations, and community members come together. From collaborative performances and community celebrations to exhibitions and public art, each event affirmed Delta Arts Center's mission to serve as a cultural home where African American art and history continue to thrive.

We extend our sincere gratitude to our artists, performers, partners, volunteers, and everyone who joined us throughout the season. Together, we celebrated not only freedom and history, but also the enduring power of the arts to educate, inspire, and unite our community.