$2,544 raised by 8 donors
13% complete
$20,000 Goal
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.
James Wheatley, Celebration Arts Founder, 1998. UNCLE BENDS: A HOME-COOKED NEGRO NARRATIVE
Credit: Larry DaltonOriginally the Celebration Dance Company, founded in 1976 by James Wheatley, Celebration Arts became a 501c3 organization in 1986. For more than 30 years, Celebration Arts has continued to be a cornerstone of music, dance, and theater 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, not just a theater. While our actors and production volunteers hone performance skills, our patrons enjoy a show and have a learning experience about the people and events that have shaped the Black experience in America. Many of these stories are not taught in school or readily known.
In the past few months, patrons have learned the story of Thurgood Marshall, from his early days memorizing the constitution as a punishment in elementary school to advocating for Black soldiers in Korea during the Korean War as a young lawyer to his eventual rise to becoming the first Black Supreme Court Justice in our production of THURGOOD. Imani Waweru and Xzavier Beacham, 2024. ZORA & LANGSTON.
Credit: Angel Rodriguez Loza
Patrons also learned about the fiery friendship and its ultimate demise between Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston, two of our literary icons in ZORA & LANGSTON. During the Harlem Renaissance, audiences learned how Black artists navigated demanding relationships with patrons to fund their work. They also learned about the last living enslaved person at the time, Cudjoe Lewis, and the Dahomey tribe in Africa.
A Celebration Arts experience is truly a unique experience in Sacramento theater. It's theater for everyone told through the Black experience!
Celebration Arts KIDS' Time Company, 2024. Credit: Jonathan MartinezCelebration 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 to Sacramento area schools, administrative support, and building maintenance, including new carpets, tech equipment, and other tools to further enhance the Celebration Arts experience.
We thank you in advance for your continued support.
Please consider making recurring donations by selecting the pledge option during checkout or you can avoid fees by donating directly to us through our website!
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!
As you know, your donation is not just a contribution; it’s an investment in the heart of our community, ensuring Celebration Arts continues the legacy and lasting impact of the vision our founder, James Wheatley, set forth nearly 40 years ago.
Your generosity will directly support our operational costs, help us make essential facility improvements, and, most importantly, sustain and expand vital programs like Kids Time 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.
We believe in the transformative power of Black storytelling and the African American experience. Your support enables us to bring these narratives to life, fostering understanding, empathy, and connection among people of all ages. If you have experienced one of our productions, you know this is the core of our being.
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 of $150 to help us reach our $20,000 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 Board of Directors
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
Tax id (EIN)
68-0077971
Mission Category
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Operating Budget
$100,001-$250,000
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