Morris Chestnut, Anika Noni Rose and Tyler James Williams are among the stars joining the lineup for this year’s CultureCon New York.
Billed as the “biggest festival for Black creatives,” CultureCon is scheduled to take place Oct. 5 and 6 at Duggal Greenhouse in Brooklyn, with previously announced programming featuring “Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo, Yara Shahidi and Law Roach. Powered by the Creative Collective NYC and presented by Max, the convention is now in its seventh year.
“CultureCon is more than just a celebration of creativity; it’s a global platform where diverse voices gather to connect, collaborate, and inspire,” said Imani Ellis, CEO and founder of CultureCon. “In a world that often overlooks the richness of our stories, we gather not only to uplift our culture but to empower each other to dream bigger and bolder.”
Ellis continued: “With the rise of the creator economy, it’s essential that we harness our unique narratives and talents to redefine industries and build sustainable futures. By fostering community and celebrating our shared experiences, we remind ourselves we can shape a brighter future, leveraging our creativity to drive meaningful change.”
As the newest addition to the cast of the Onyx Collective’s “Reasonable Doubt,” Chestnut will join series stars Emayatzy Corinealdi and McKinley Freeman for a conversation on the Culture Stage where they’ll discuss the power in telling authentic Black stories and tease more shocking twists to come on the sexy legal drama.
Other programming includes a one-on-one conversation with “The Penguin” star Rhenzy Feliz presented by Max and Scene in Black; a special screening of Amazon MGM Studios’ “The Fire Inside,” followed by a conversation with actor Ryan Destiny and boxing champion Claressa Shields; the return of Prime Video’s Culture Rated with a preview of “Cross” with star Aldis Hodge; a panel presented by NBCUniversal about mental health stigmas onscreen with Arlen Escarpeta (NBC’s “Found”), Olly Sholotan (Peacock’s “Bel-Air”) and Travina Springer (NBC’s “The Irrational”); and previews of Netflix’s “Rhythm + Flow” and the Audible Original “The Wonder of Stevie.”
The conference will debut the first-ever CultureCon Creator Summit, in partnership with Kensington Grey, offering specific workshops, resources and networking opportunities to equip creators with the tools and community they need to succeed in their journey. Plus, Kristy Sarah will take CultureCon’s main stage to discuss how content creators can scale and monetize their personal brands, as well as the importance of advocacy within the Black creator community.
Major partners for the event, this year themed around camp, also include Chase Ink, McDonald’s, Verizon, SheaMoisture, CÎROC, Clinique, Kickstarter, The Advancement Project, Gucci, Pinterest, iOne Digital, Endeavor/160 Over 90, The Center for Cultural Power, Foot Locker, Coca-Cola and Smartwater, When We All Vote, NPR, Brooklyn Navy Yard, General Assembly, WeWork, Frame Me and PureVZN. For tickets and more information, visit CultureCon’s website.
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- Source of information and images “variety ““
