Cosmic North: The Afrofuturism Canadian Arts Conference

Astrosankofa Arts Initiatives

Ancestral Technofossils art installation at the Maison de la culture Claude-Léveillée. Photo: Quentin VerCetty, 2019

Cosmic North: The Afrofuturism Canadian Arts Conference

October 18 – 20, 2024
Day 1 – 2 at National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa
Day 3 at Club Saw, Ottawa
Get Tickets

The Cosmic Northside – Afrofuturistic Canadian Art Conference (ACAC) is a bilingual, three-day celebration from October 18-20, 2024, in the nation’s capital. The event will honour the legacy of Afrofuturism in Canada with engaging presentations, live music, mixed reality exhibitions, and interactive activities that explore the intersections of artificial intelligence (AI), Sci-Fi fantasy, and Pan-Africanism. Attendees will experience a fusion of S.T.E.A.M (Science Technology Engineering Art Mathematics/Metaphysics) innovation and contemporary practices that envision a future rooted in land sovereignty, solidarity and equality.

The conference is presented by ASTROSANKOFA Arts Initiatives (ASAI), in partnership with the National Gallery of Canada. It is planned by Hors Pair Social and supported by the Black Speculative Arts Movement (BSAM) and the Ottawa Black Arts Kollectiv (OBAK). Funded by the Government of Canada’s Department of Culture and Heritage and the Canada Council for the Arts, the ACAC will feature discussions, workshops, performances, digital art displays and an interactive robot that will create emphasis on intersectionality and the power of creative expression in shaping tomorrow’s world.

Day 1: The Launch Gala
October 18, 2024, 7pm – 10pm ET
National Gallery of Canada, 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON K1N 9N4
$40.00 ($35.00 students) | Get Tickets

Kick off the Cosmic Northside Conference with a bang! Join us for an unforgettable opening, packed with dynamic speakers, vibrant performances, and insightful conversations about Afrofuturism and creative artistic exploration from various Black Canadian art luminaries. This is your chance to dive into the future but learning about the past—don’t miss the energy!

Day 2: The Orbit – Discussions and Special Presentation
October 18, 2024, 11am – 5pm ET
National Gallery of Canada, 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON K1N 9N4
$25.00 ($20.00 students) | Get Tickets

Join in the cypher of knowledge and insight. Be prepared to engage with immersive workshops, artistic showcases, and thought-provoking panels. Each segment is a deep dive reflecting on innovation and creativity of Afrofuturism in Canada.

Day 3: The Hyperspace Jump – The Official After Party
October 18, 2024, 7pm – 10pm ET
Club Saw, 67 Nicholas Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 7B9
$30.00 ($25.00 students) | Get Tickets

The closing celebration promises to be epic! Wrap up with networking and new inspirations.

National Gallery of Canada Blue Crystal. Photo courtesy of the National Gallery of Canada, 2019

About AstroSankofa Arts Initiatives

AstroSankofa Arts Initiatives is a federally incorporated not for profit organization and artist collective dedicated to supporting Black creatives interested in exploring or utilizing Afrofuturism in public art interventions, community engagement and web 3 ventures. Our motto, “ancestrally brilliant, futuristic bold,” reflects our mission to inspire progress while honouring the past. We aim to uplift Black Canadian legacies through the arts.

AstroSankofa Arts Initiatives
1911 Finch Avenue, Unit 7b
Toronto, ON M3N 2V2
www.astrosankofa.org
info@astrosankofa.org
647-880-9908

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Accessibility:
AstroSankofa Arts Initiatives is FULLY accessible. For more information, www.astrosankofa.org/cosmic-northside