International Month of Black Women in the Arts
September 1
About International Month of Black Women in the Arts
International Month of Black Women in the Arts is an annual observance held in September that recognises the creative achievements of Black women across visual art, literature, music, dance, theatre, film, and the healing and culinary arts. It celebrates the contribution Black women have made to culture while drawing attention to the under-representation and lack of recognition they have long faced in artistic life. In 2026 it runs throughout September, from Tuesday 1 September to Wednesday 30 September.
The Story Behind the Month
The roots of this observance lie in the grassroots arts movement built by and for Black women. For decades, galleries, publishing houses, concert halls, and museums overlooked the work of Black women, even as those women produced some of the most original art of their generations. The month grew out of a determination to change that, gathering momentum through community festivals, independent collectives, and word-of-mouth campaigns rather than top-down institutional decree.
A key thread in its history runs through the Black Women’s Arts Festival (BWAF), founded by the Philadelphia multimedia artist and producer Cassendre Xavier. Held in September, the festival brought together self-identified Black women to share music, spoken word and poetry, dance, film, theatre, visual art, healing arts, and lectures in a single celebratory programme. The festival helped anchor September as a focal point for honouring Black women artists, and the wider idea of a dedicated month spread from there into awareness calendars around the world.
Because the observance grew organically rather than being declared by a government or a single founding body, you will sometimes see it linked to February as well, the month in which a related International Week of Black Women in the Arts is marked. The September timing, tied to the festival tradition, is the version most widely catalogued today. What unites every version is the purpose: to ensure that the work of Black women is seen, named, collected, performed, read, and remembered.
When and Where is It Celebrated?
International Month of Black Women in the Arts is observed throughout September. In 2026 that means the whole of the month, beginning on Tuesday 1 September and ending on Wednesday 30 September. As an international observance it is marked wherever Black women create and audiences gather, with particularly strong activity in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Caribbean, and across the African continent and its diaspora. Celebrations range from large city festivals and gallery exhibitions to small reading groups, school projects, and online tributes shared across the world.
Traditions and Customs
The month has no single fixed ritual. Instead, it is marked through a range of cultural activities that put Black women artists at the centre of attention.
- Festivals and showcases – Multidisciplinary events bring together performers, poets, painters, and filmmakers in one programme, echoing the festival tradition the month grew from.
- Gallery exhibitions – Museums and independent galleries curate shows dedicated to Black women artists, often pairing established names with emerging talent.
- Readings and book clubs – Communities gather to read and discuss novels, poetry, and essays by Black women writers, from canonical figures to debut authors.
- Performances and concerts – Dance companies, musicians, and theatre groups stage work by Black women composers, choreographers, and playwrights.
- Workshops and mentoring – Artists run skill-sharing sessions and mentoring schemes to support the next generation of creators.
- Online tributes – Supporters share artwork, recommend reading lists, and spotlight individual artists across social media throughout the month.
Ways to Celebrate the Month
Anyone can take part, whether you are an artist, a collector, an educator, or simply someone who loves culture.
- Buy directly from Black women artists – Purchasing prints, books, music, or original work puts support where it counts and helps address long-standing pay disparities in creative fields.
- Visit an exhibition or show – Seek out a gallery, festival, or performance featuring Black women this September and bring friends along.
- Read widely – Build a reading list of novels, poetry, and non-fiction by Black women authors and share your favourites.
- Amplify online – Use your platform to recommend artists, share their work with proper credit, and link to where people can buy or book.
- Support arts education – Donate to programmes that give Black girls and young women access to instruments, materials, studios, and mentorship.
- Learn the history – Take time to understand the artists who came before, from the nineteenth century to the present, and the barriers they overcame.
Notable Black Women Artists to Celebrate
The month is a chance to learn about, and revisit, the women whose work shaped culture across centuries and disciplines.
- Edmonia Lewis – The first Black and Native American sculptor to win international acclaim, best known for the marble work The Death of Cleopatra (1876).
- Meta Warrick Fuller – A sculptor whose career was established in the early twentieth century and who received a notable federal art commission in 1914.
- Alma Woodsey Thomas – An abstract painter who, in 1972, became the first Black woman to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art.
- Toni Morrison – The novelist whose books, including Beloved, earned her the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993.
- Faith Ringgold – A painter and author celebrated for her narrative story quilts and children’s books.
- Maya Angelou – Poet and memoirist whose I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings remains widely read across the world.
If you enjoy celebrating literature and the written word, you might also mark National Poetry Month, another observance that puts creative voices in the spotlight.
Facts and Figures
- Edmonia Lewis carved The Death of Cleopatra in 1876, a work that was later lost for nearly a century before being rediscovered and restored.
- Alma Woodsey Thomas was 80 years old when she held her landmark solo show at the Whitney in 1972.
- Toni Morrison was the first Black woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, awarded in 1993.
- The Black Women’s Arts Festival, held in September in Philadelphia, was founded and directed by artist Cassendre Xavier.
- The observance spans the full breadth of the arts, including fine arts, performing arts, literature, and the healing and culinary arts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is International Month of Black Women in the Arts?
It is an annual observance that recognises and celebrates the creative achievements of Black women across the arts, from painting and sculpture to writing, music, dance, theatre, and film. It also raises awareness of the under-representation Black women have faced in cultural life.
When is International Month of Black Women in the Arts in 2026?
It is observed throughout September 2026, running from Tuesday 1 September to Wednesday 30 September.
Why is the month sometimes linked to February?
Because the observance grew from grassroots community efforts rather than a single official declaration, you will see it associated with both September and February, the latter tied to a related International Week of Black Women in the Arts. The September version, rooted in the festival tradition, is the most widely catalogued today.
Spread the Word
Share the month with your community using #BlackWomenInTheArts and #BlackWomenInTheArts2026. Whether you mark the occasion by buying a print, booking a show, or recommending a favourite book, every bit of visibility helps make sure the work of Black women is seen and celebrated.
Related Awareness Days
- International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent – A day recognising the contributions and rights of women and girls of African descent worldwide.
- National Black Business Month – A month dedicated to supporting Black-owned enterprises, including many in the creative industries.
- Black Girl Day Off – A day encouraging Black women and girls to rest, recharge, and prioritise their wellbeing.
Links
- Read more about International Month of Black Women in the Arts
- Explore more awareness days at AwarenessDays.com
Featured image: Photo by Etty Fidele on Unsplash.
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