public programs
Black River Life’s exhibitions, performances and community programs bring people together through art and storytelling.
WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE SAYING
“I felt seen, I felt affirmed, I felt connected, I felt transported.”
–HER Table 2026 Attendee
A BLACK RIVER LIFE SIGNATURE EVENT
BLACK RIVER THURSDAYS
A monthly arts showcase welcoming honesty, vulnerability, genuine connection and narrative repair
Founded in 2023, Black River Thursdays hosts a monthly gathering for poetry, music and storytelling to create space for people feel safe to share their stories and their truth.
A BLACK RIVER LIFE SIGNATURE EVENT
HER Table
An artistic exploration of matriarchy in South Phoenix
The Black Girl Brown Girl Collective and Black River Life join forces each year to showcase women artists from across the community. What began as exploration of matriarchy and belonging has evolved into a gathering defined by tenderness and cross-cultural solidarity.
A BLACK RIVER LIFE SIGNATURE EVENT
SOIRéE
An annual arts showcase benefitting Black River Life
Join Black River Life for an elevated evening of Black art, storytelling, music and community. Come raise a glass, nourish your spirit and invest in the stories that move us all forward.
A BLACK RIVER LIFE SIGNATURE EVENT
LIVING BLACK WORLDS
Downtown Phoenix's premier Black History Month celebration
Presented annually in partnership with the Phoenix Center for the Arts, Living Black Worlds is a cultural arts festival and educational experience for the entire family. From quilting to Amapiano dance, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
A BLACK RIVER LIFE SIGNATURE EVENT
POLITICS OF PLACE
A series of conversations and experiences building Black and Native solidarity
Stolen bodies and stolen lands define the emergence of this place, and so many others. To achieve safe and liberated futures, we must embrace our shared destiny— and that starts with building Black and Native solidarity. In greater Phoenix, a BIPOC-led collective has come together to explore connections between land, food, safety and justice.