HBCU Arts and Castle of Our Skins will feature a three-city concert tour and host a weeklong Martha’s Vineyard arts festival, running August 1 to 6. The festival celebrates HBCU artistry, entrepreneurship, intergenerational mentorship, and cultural legacy. Artists, alumni, creatives, entrepreneurs, and community members gather for performances, conversations, showcases, and curated Island experiences celebrating Black cultural expression.
Schedule highlights
Saturday, August 1, 1 to 2:15 pm, Union Chapel, 55 Narragansett Ave., Oak Bluffs. HBCU Artists as Entrepreneurs panel discussion with visionary HBCU creatives. Dr. Jolie Rocke, Dr. Ciyadh Wells, Avid Williams, Kyle Exum, and Stacey Allen will share how they are transforming their talents into thriving enterprises, building sustainable careers, and using entrepreneurship to uplift communities and shape cultural narratives. From 6:30 to 8 pm, at the same location, enjoy the Blacknificently Divine Opening Concert, featuring music by the Blacknificent 7 Composer Collective and a newly commissioned work by Jaylin Vinson.
Sunday, August 2, 10 am, Union Chapel, 55 Narragansett Ave., Oak Bluffs. Church service presentation. Join the Union Chapel community for a special worship service.
Monday, August 3, 4 to 7 pm, West Tisbury Inn, 1070 State Road, Vineyard Haven. VIP reception. Join HBCU Arts and Castle of Our Skins for an evening of connection, conversation, and celebration at the official Martha’s Vineyard HBCU Arts Festival VIP Reception.
Tuesday, August 4, 3—4 pm, West Tisbury Inn, 1070 State Road, Vineyard Haven. HBCU Artist Showcase. Interactive storytime with Stacey Allen and D is for Dance: Dancing Through the Diaspora, a celebration of movement that follows a young Black girl through an alphabet of dance styles rooted in the African diaspora.
From 4:30 to 6 pm, at the same location, the HBCU Visual Artist Showcase begins. From 7 to 9:30 pm, catch Open Mic night. Musicians, poets, storytellers, comedians, dancers, and multidisciplinary artists share their work. This event is open to everyone.
Wednesday, August 5, 1 to 2:30 pm, West Tisbury Inn, 1070 State Road, Vineyard Haven. Spirit of the Quilt with Dr. Jolie Rocke explores the hidden languages of freedom woven into African American and indigenous cultural traditions through storytelling, historical artifacts, quiltmaking, and conversations about sustainability, community, and cultural legacy. At the same venue, from 3 to 4:30 pm, catch HBCU Artist Showcase, featuring cellist Richard Jimenez.
Thursday, August 6, 3 to 4:30 pm. West Tisbury Inn, 1070 State Road, Vineyard Haven. HBCU Artist Showcase, featuring classical guitarist Dr. Ciyadh Wells.
Additional announcements will be released throughout the summer. For schedules, tickets, excursion packages, and additional information, visit hbcu-arts.org/fest. Social media: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/castle-of-our-skins, Instagram: instagram.com/castleskins, Facebook: facebook.com/Castleskins, YouTube: youtube.com/@castleskins.
