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Ashley Bryan Art Series Youth Art Festival is one of AARLCC's longest running signature programs, celebrating children's book illustrators of African descent.
The African American Research Library and Cultural Center presents the Ashley Bryan Art Series Youth Art Festival - a day celebrating art, creativity, and storytelling. Participants are invited to experience African storytelling, hands-on art activities, and creative writing sessions by local authors. Enjoy a special presentation by Johnnie Christmas, the acclaimed illustrator of “Swim Team,” and end the day with a splash at the L.A. Lee YMCA swim party.
This free event welcomes the entire community to celebrate art, creativity, and stories.
Events will take place at the American Research Library and Cultural Center and L.A. Lee YMCA.
10:30am – 12:30pm - Ashley Bryan Art Series Youth Art Festival @ AARLCC
1:00pm – 4:00pm - Party on the Pool Deck @ L.A. Lee YMCA
This year’s event is sponsored by the Helios Education Foundation and presented in partnership with the L.A. Lee YMCA.
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Johnnie Christmas is a #1 New York Times Best Selling graphic novelist. His 2022 middle grade graphic novel debut SWIM TEAM earned a spot on the National Book Awards longlist, a Coretta Scott King Award Illustrator Honor and a Harvey Awards nomination. SWIM TEAM is currently a nominee for the Barnes & Noble Children's Book Award and for the Silver Birch Award.
SWIM TEAM is a 2022 middle-grade graphic novel by Johnnie Christmas. The novel centers on Bree, a young Black girl starting over at a middle school in Florida, where she reluctantly joins the swim team. In doing so, Bree must confront her fears about swimming, friendship, and disappointing her father.
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AGE GROUP: | Tweens | Teens | New Adults | Kids | Families | Adults |
EVENT TYPE: | Speaker | Literacy/Learning Services | Fair/Festival | Arts & Cultural |
Mon, Sep 09 | 10:00PM to 8:00PM |
Tue, Sep 10 | 10:00AM to 6:00PM |
Wed, Sep 11 | 10:00PM to 8:00PM |
Thu, Sep 12 | 10:00AM to 6:00PM |
Fri, Sep 13 | 10:00AM to 6:00PM |
Sat, Sep 14 | 10:00AM to 6:00PM |
Sun, Sep 15 | Closed |