June 19th 2023.
This June, the Newark Symphony Hall (NHS) is making history as they host the inaugural Black Creative Economy Summit. This three-day event, taking place from June 20-22 in Newark, N.J., is part of the state’s North to Shore Conference and is the first of its kind in the city and state.
The summit, which has been put together to support Black artists and entrepreneurs, aims to foster investment opportunities in media, performing arts, technology, and film. It also seeks to provide BIPOC entrepreneurs with resources and connections to mentors and investors in order to help them scale their businesses.
The event will host a wide variety of industry leaders and tastemakers from different sectors, including entertainment, business, and tech, to empower creatives at different stages in their career. Some of the renowned attendees include David Banner, Grammy Award-winning rapper, record producer, and philanthropist Jeffrey Page; Emmy-nominated director and choreographer Sway; American journalist, radio personality and executive producer Lenny the Barber; and The Other Side of Newark, a musical project led by multi-award-winning producer, Jerry Wonda, who will be performing at the summit.
Speaking on the summit, Talia L. Young, president and CEO of NHS, stated, “The Black Creative Economy Summit is geared to acknowledge the financial impact of artists and promote ownership while celebrating the rich heritage and contributions of Black creators in Newark, throughout New Jersey and beyond. The event will provide a platform for artists, industry professionals and investors to come together, exchange ideas and drive positive change within creative industries.”
Recent figures from analytics firm, Crunchbase, have revealed that Black startups collected $324 million in venture capital funds in the second quarter of 2022, a drop from the $1.2 billion in the first quarter of 2022 and $866 million in the second quarter of 2021. Further, a report has stated that across the US, only 5.1% of private-equity firms are owned by minorities, including Blacks, Latinos, and Asians.
This summit is sure to be a great platform for attendees to gain access to invaluable resources and knowledge in order to drive positive change and progress for Black creatives. Find out more about the event and its agenda, speakers, and performers here.
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