(NEWARK, NJ) -- Newark Symphony Hall (NSH) presented its second annual Black Creative Economy Summit on June 24-26, 2024, providing a space for artistry, innovation, black entrepreneurship, and economic resilience. The three-day event was part of the last leg of the state's North to Shore Festival, aimed to celebrate everything that makes Jersey great - its talent, diversity and creativity, and featured renowned actress, comedian, and social advocate Amanda Seales as the keynote speaker.
In collaboration with Prudential, North to Shore, NJEDA, Newark Alliance, United Airlines, the City of Newark, Newark Arts, and the Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District, the Black Creative Economy Summit served as a gathering for artists, corporations, nonprofits, investors, and students to thoughtfully discuss impact and opportunities across all creative industries.
“As a creative and an artist, I find myself challenging myself to do much more than just make art because if you’re comfortable, you don’t know enough,” says Keynote Speaker Amanda Seales. “My art has to have value beyond value, and it takes more than my imagination to do that. It requires community. Integrity is what keeps us a community and economy is what keeps you by yourself. As Black creatives, we always make something from nothing, but the reality is that there has to be a unity that comes from within us. We need to have a sense of mindfulness about our creativity.”
As the largest Black arts and entertainment institution in the state, Newark Symphony Hall aims to foster an environment that celebrates and uplifts Black artists. Through thought-provoking discussions, collaborative partnerships, and visionary presentations, the Black Creative Economy Summit galvanized participants to explore new horizons, challenge conventional boundaries, and embrace the transformative power of innovation.
“The Black Creative Economy Summit showcases the incredible power and potential of our community when we come together to support and uplift each other,” says Talia Young, President and CEO of Newark Symphony Hall. “I realize the power we have when we are independent, but we are stronger together. The core value here at Newark Symphony Hall is to bring together creatives, allow creatives to make money, expand their production and their creative companies, or just to do gathering and fellowship here, throughout the 200,000 square feet of space in this building.”
Recognizing Black creatives are unapologetically gifted and aware of their impact, Newark Symphony Hall provides a platform where community members can share ideas, network, and collaborate on strategies to promote and invest in cultural ownership.
The summit kicked off on Monday, June 24th with “Cocktails & Creativity,” hosted by Newark’s Anchoring Arts Institutions, where participants enjoyed live music and supported the iconic powerbrokers curating Newark’s Art Scene.
United Airlines sponsored day 2 of the Summit with a networking breakfast, fostering connections that set the tone for the day. The first discussion of the day, Newark Symphony Hall’s panel dove into “The Power Behind Impact.” Audible’s presentation on "Embracing + Empowering the Creator" provided attendees with innovative perspectives on creativity in the modern world. The Newark Alliance’s panel on "The Art of Black Entrepreneurship" explored the creation of Newark’s Arts and Education District and the role Black entrepreneurs play in placemaking. Through her keynote, Amanda Seales encouraged Black creatives to build bridges and strengthen economic resilience. Additionally, iHeart’s session on "The Power Move" showcased building brand equity and building monetization through innovation.
The Summit concluded with The Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District’s Jazzy Soul Series on Wednesday, June 26th, which was influenced by Newark legend Amiri Baraka’s love of jazz, and introduced jazz-infused live soul music to a new generation of music lovers.
Born in 1925, Newark Symphony Hall (NSH) has been home to almost a century of diverse arts and cultural performances in what is now New Jersey’s largest Black-led arts and entertainment institution and venue in the state. As art impacts the community, the Hall remains committed to providing artistically rich experiences for art lovers of all ages while creating career pathways for people of color and space for community programming, ensuring Newark’s first stage remains accessible.
