This February, in honor of Black History Month, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum (BCM) is hosting a vibrant, week-long festival designed to keep kids engaged and learning during mid-winter recess. The event combines art, culture, and history, with a special focus on art as activism and reflecting on the contributions of the African diaspora.
Festival Highlights: Art Meets Activism
Inside the museum’s colorful art space, children participate in creative workshops, decorating mirrors as symbols of self-reflection. These mirrors, adorned with beads and feathers, are inspired by the works of local artists.
“I drew a bunch of hearts because I feel like Black History Month can also have something to do with love and how you can love yourself as a Black person,” said 15-year-old Dreame Monplaisir.
The museum’s president, Atiba T. Edwards, emphasizes the importance of reflection in today’s image-focused society.
“These days, we see ourselves all the time through camera lenses—often with filters. This space allows children to truly reflect on who they are without any distortions,” Edwards explained.
Beyond art, the festival offers children the chance to think about their personal agency, encouraging them to imagine their role in shaping the future.
Cultural Performances and Interactive Workshops
The festival also features:
- Dance performances that showcase traditional and contemporary movements from across the African diaspora
- Interactive art workshops where children can create their own projects
- Exhibits that highlight key moments, figures, and stories from Black history
8-year-old Storme Major shared their excitement, saying:
“There are interesting facts about people that you never knew about.”
Adults attending the festival also found it inspiring.
Tammara Tillman, who brought her grandchildren, said:
“It made the children think, as well as myself—what are some of your dreams? What do you have dreams for your community?”
Festival Theme: “I Dream of Black Brooklyn”
For the second year in a row, BCM partnered with STooPS Art & Community, a Bed-Stuy-based organization known for bringing art into unconventional public spaces like stoops, sidewalks, and parks.
The theme, “I Dream of Black Brooklyn,” was inspired by a song from the legendary Lena Horne and encourages participants to reflect on their hopes and dreams for Black communities in Brooklyn.
Kendra Bostock, Founder and Director of STooPS, explained:
“We want people to think about their dreams for this borough and Black Brooklyn because when Black communities thrive, everyone thrives.”
Celebrating 125 Years of History
This year’s festival holds additional significance as the Brooklyn Children’s Museum marks its 125th anniversary, making it the first children’s museum in the world. Over the years, BCM has remained a space where children can learn, explore, and express themselves freely.
“This is one of the few spaces where a child has agency,” Edwards noted. “That level of decision-making is vital for their own future.”
