Ashley Bryan Art Series Youth Art Festival
A Celebration of Art and Stories
Saturday, September 21
10:30am - 12:30pm
African American Research Library and Cultural Center
Auditorium, Café, Dianne Bienes Seminar Room # 1, Ellyn F. Walters Conference Room, Gallery B, Harambee Room, Lobby, Michael Bienes Seminar Room #2Ashley 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. IF you can't make it in person JOIN US ONLINE!
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 |
African American Research Library and Cultural Center
| Mon, May 04 | 10:00AM to 8:00PM |
| Tue, May 05 | 10:00AM to 6:00PM |
| Wed, May 06 | 10:00PM to 8:00PM |
| Thu, May 07 | 10:00AM to 6:00PM |
| Fri, May 08 | 10:00AM to 6:00PM |
| Sat, May 09 | 10:00AM to 6:00PM |
| Sun, May 10 | Closed |





