3rd Tampa Bay Afrofuturism Festival returns Nov. 7 – 17
PDAP brings back two weekends of music, visual art, educational panels, and community tech experiences
Pinellas Diaspora Arts Project (PDAP) hosts the 3rd Tampa Bay Afrofuturism Festival (TBAFF), November 7 – 17, 2024 with free pop-up events throughout St. Pete, Clearwater, Largo, and Tampa.
Bringing together music acts, visual artists, authors, educators, community activists, tech experts, along with youth and families, this year’s theme is “NEW EXPONENTIALS: Collective Power,” and opens with THE FUTURISTS art exhibit at The Studio@620, running from Nov 7 to Dec 8. The exhibit features art by Dionne Seevers/Demetasphere, Raheem Fitzgerald, I.B.O.M.S, Traer Price, and others.
The festival will also sponsor two Community Tech Days this year, with one in St. Petersburg on Saturday, Nov 9 from 11 – 4 at the Thomas Jet Jackson Rec Center, and the other at Artz 4 Life Academy in N Greenwood, Clearwater on Friday, Nov 15 from 1 pm – 5 pm.
This year features a number of music shows with artists including Nico Sweet and DJ PharoahUnchained, Tha Banned, Kalib Music, The Black Ace, Dwn2Earth, Dia Blue & the Experience, Moe Musik, Anubia Storm, DJ Solo, and more.
Weekend 1
• Thu, Nov 7, 7 pm: Futurists Exhibition Opening plus performances; Location: Studio@620, 620 1st Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
• Fri, Nov 8, 7 pm: “Outliers, Aliens, and Superheroes: Rammellzee, Takashi Murakami, and Afrofuturist Street Culture in Tampa Bay” Panel; Location: TBA
8:30 pm: Kalib Music’s Kickback & Vibe, a Music & Tech event; Location: Urban Drinkery, 2184 9th Ave S STE B, St. Petersburg, FL 33712
• Sat, Nov 9, 11 am: Urban Growers Panel One Community Grocery Co-op Luncheon; Location: Thomas Jet Jackson Rec Center, 1000 28th St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712
1 pm: St Pete Community Tech Day; Location: Thomas Jet Jackson Rec Center
8 pm: Nico Sweet, DJ PharoahUnchained, Tha Banned; Location: Studio@620
• Sun, Nov 10, 3 pm: VALOR FEST, honoring Veterans, with Poet Miesha Brundridge & others, Studio@620
6 pm: Women of the Future: Solo Performances,Studio@620
Weekend 2
• Fri, Nov, 15, 1 – 5 pm: Clearwater Community Tech Day; Location: Artz 4 Life Academy, 1751 Kings Hwy, Clearwater, FL 33755
• Sat, Nov 16, 5 pm An evening with Tenea D Johnson; Location: E.Chambliss Artist Studio, 1326 Dr. M.L.K. Jr St S Upper Level /2nd Floor, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
6 pm – 10 pm: Jay Coachman & Friends, Dwn2Earth, Dia Blue & the Experience, Moe Musik, Anubia Storm, and DJ Solo; Location: Shuffle, 2612 N Tampa St, Tampa, FL 33602
Sun, Nov 17– Closing Night at The Studio@620, 620 1st Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
6:20 pm Prof. Donnie McClendon with DJ Speedy, “Afrofuturism, the First and Final Frontier” Music & Visuals Review
7 pm: Kamysha Martin, designer, artist, metalsmith, “The Evelution of LolahSoul”
7:45 pm: FUSS Futuristic, Upscale, Sustainable, Style Fashion Stroll!
8:00 pm: TBAFF Closing Night Celebration
For more information and a full festival schedule, visit https://TBAFF.com; email questions to hello@pinellasdap.org. The Tampa Bay Afrofuturism Festival is made possible by support from The Gobioff Foundation, Market Road Films, and many individual donors; and sponsorship by The Woodson African American Museum of Florida, The Studio@620, Artz 4 Life Academy, Urban Drinkery, and Echambliss.Artist Studio.
About Pinellas Diaspora Arts Project, Inc, (PDAP): Formed in June of 2021, PDAP’s mission is to support the arts in underrepresented communities of Tampa Bay through creative programming, family events, and civic education. Learn more at https://pinellasdap.org; follow them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/pinellasdap, and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PinellasDAP/.