Celebration Arts amplifies the rich tapestry of the Black experience through the transformative mediums of theater, music, and dance. Through performance and storytelling, we empower, educate, and celebrate our vibrant culture.
Elaine Gosine (left), James Wheatley (center), Pamela Kay (right)
Celebration Arts was initially Celebration Dance Company, founded in 1976 by James Wheatley, Elaine Gosine, and Pamela Kay. Ten years later in 1986 Celebration Arts was established as a non-profit to feature theatre, dance, and music. Now at 40 years, Celebration Arts has continued to be a cornerstone of the arts for the Sacramento region's African American community, bringing Black artists and stories to its stage at 2727 B Street.
At our core, Celebration Arts is an educational organization. We are committed to providing quality training for actors, musicians, and dancers at every level of development.
In 2026, we are keeping that promise of being a training ground. This past March, we launched the inaugural 916 New Plays Festival: a new staged-reading festival dedicated to discovering, elevating, and developing full-length original plays and musicals by local and regional playwrights. It is designed not only as a literary showcase, but as a development pipeline. We intend for selected works in the 916 New Plays Festival to be considered for a full mainstage production in a future Celebration Arts season.
In the spirit of our 40th anniversary, our theme for this year is Homecoming. We recently closed a run of George W. Wolfe's magnetic 1986 play, The Colored Museum. Upcoming productions of our Homecoming season include Don't Touch My Hair by Emmy Nominated Douglas Lyons, us & the rest of 'em by local playwright Anthony D'Juan, and Dot by Emmy Award winning actor Colman Domingo.
The Colored Museum, photography credit: Eric GraceCelebration Arts also provides educational programs for children through Kids' Time and dance training for teens, adults, and seniors. Funding received for the Big Day of Giving will directly help bring expanded programming with our new initiative The James Wheatley Conservatory, administrative support, and building maintenance, including new carpets, tech equipment, and other tools to further enhance the Celebration Arts experience.
Celebration Arts is a multicultural and multiple-discipline organization whose purpose is to support the development and presentation of the performing arts, making art accessible to community residents through training and performance opportunities.
Hello Celebration Arts Supporters!
Your generosity will directly support and sustain and expand vital programs like Kids Time, Teen MAGIC, and school matinees. These initiatives offer way more than just performances; they are gateways to diverse perspectives and powerful narratives that enrich the fabric of our community and give our children the much-needed historical context they miss in traditional classrooms.
Because of this, we ask that you please continue to open your hearts and wallets to support us for the Big Day of Giving with a gift to help us reach our $40,000 goal. Then, we can use these flexible funds immediately where we need them most.
We can’t do it without you.
THANK YOU!
The Celebration Arts Family
Celebration Arts is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment where all volunteers, staff, performers, partners, vendors, and board members, no matter of ethnicity, religion, or sexuality, are treated with respect and dignity.
Organization name
Celebration Arts
1986
Mission Category
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Operating Budget
$250,001-$500,000
Organization Need
Funding: Program, Funding: Unrestricted, Technology, Furniture, Volunteers
Demographics Served
Black/African American
BIPOC Leadership
Both the Executive Director & Board Chair
Local Counties Served
Sacramento
Equity Statement
Equity Statement
Address
2727 B StreetSacramento, CA, US