There's something special about walking into a museum and feeling as if you've stepped into a completely different world, where history, creativity, and storytelling intersect. Recently, I had the wonderful opportunity to experience exactly that during a private tour of Beyond Mysticism at the Seattle Art Museum, thanks to my partnership with Converge Media.

On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, the atmosphere inside Portland City Hall shifted from civic routine to a celebration of culture. In a powerful and long-awaited moment, the Portland City Council officially recognized the life, career, and community impact of David Jackson—better known to the world as DJ O.G. ONE—by proclaiming November 30 as “DJ O.G. ONE Day.”

The 12th annual Reign of Style Hair Show & Competition recently electrified Seattle Center, reaffirming its status as the Northwest’s premier event for the beauty industry. With Back2Besa host Besa Gordon in attendance, this spectacular day brought together a galaxy of talent for a celebration of artistry, community, and friendly competition. 

The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture is currently hosting an exhibition, “We STILL Dream A Future—Reclaiming Humanity: Afrofuturism Past, Present, Future,” on display at King Street Station through May 9, 2026.

Artist, entrepreneur, and mother Jonarra Swanson recently unveiled her first solo exhibition in years, titled "Paintbrush Legacy," at Gallery AXIS in Seattle’s Pioneer Square. This collection features a series of never-before-seen pieces that delve into themes of self-determination, resilience, and the power of creating one’s own destiny.

Veteran journalist and genre-bending talent Angela Poe Russell is set to headline the annual Seattle Association of Black Journalists (SABJ) Black Voices Matter Showcase, offering the community an exclusive preview of her original musical, “Aviatrix.” 

“We Live In Color” host Deaunte Damper recently stopped by McCaw Hall for Seattle Opera’s production “Fellow Travelers,” an operatic romance that delves deep into queer love and resilience during the 1950s Lavender Scare. During his visit, Damper met with “Fellow Travelers” lead performers Jarrett Ott and Colin Aikins, and director Kevin Newbury.

Last Friday, the Mediums Collective storefront on Capitol Hill was transformed into a powerful sanctuary for “palabras sin miedo” (words without fear). The collective’s “Brown Voices Poetry & Spoken Word Night” successfully gathered local artists and community members to share stories that resonated with themes of resilience, advocacy, and resistance.

Visual artist Yolanda Galery recently joined host Trae Holiday on “The Day With Trae” to discuss her journey as a full-time creative and the upcoming fourth annual Black Makers & Creatives event. The celebration of culture and community is scheduled for Sunday, March 1st at the Hyatt Regency Lake Washington in Renton.

Seattle JazzED has announced Courtney D. Clark as its new Program Director, with her tenure beginning earlier this month. Clark is an accomplished arts executive, strategist, and artist-educator known for her dedication to accessible and equitable arts education.

Opera singer Amber Monroe recently sat down with host Trae Holiday on “The Day With Trae” to discuss her journey from an animal science major at Tuskegee University to her current role as Mary Johnson in Seattle Opera’s production of “Fellow Travelers,” debuting this Saturday, Feb. 21st.

The iconic Seattle-based clothing brand Mediums Collective is once again lighting the creative scene ablaze with a Brown Voices Poetry & Spoken Word Night this Friday, February 20th. The event marks the Collective’s effort to carve out a safe, creative haven for Black and brown expression, with owners and brothers Roger and Cesar Maldonado planning to break new boundaries in 2026 amidst their storefront’s expansion. 

The stage at McCaw Hall is set for a dramatic return as the Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB) brings back Founding Artistic Director Kent Stowell’s epic, one-act story ballet, “Firebird,” after a two-decade hiatus.

The Central District Art Walk recently transformed the historic Seattle neighborhood into a self-guided tour of art, culture, and commerce. The event, which has been running for about a year and a half, takes place every first Friday of the month to celebrate the overflowing creativity of the Central District and its artists. The theme for February’s edition of the art walk was “Black Love” in homage to Black History Month and Valentine's Day.

Through Sunday, February 15, a special 50th-anniversary production of “The Wiz” is taking over the Paramount Theatre, featuring veteran performer Alan Mingo Jr. in the titular role. On a recent “The Day With Trae” special, Mingo sat down with host Trae Holiday to discuss how taking the stage as the Wiz is the culmination of a lifelong journey of artistic inspiration that he hopes to pass down to the next generation of performers.

The Emerald City shined bright last night when the national tour of “The Wiz” made its long-awaited landing at Seattle’s Paramount Theatre. This isn’t your grandmother’s trip to Oz; it’s a 21st-century reimagining that keeps its soul firmly rooted in the 1975 original while injecting a fresh, modern energy that had the opening night crowd on its feet.

The Central District Art Walk recently transformed the historic Seattle neighborhood into a self-guided celebration of local art, culture, and commerce. The monthly showcase adopted the meaningful theme of "Black Love" for its First Friday event in February. Converge co-founders Erik Kalligraphy and The Big O were on hand, experiencing the creative energy that permeated the district.

The Re-Sole 206, Seattle's inaugural sneaker dry cleaner, recently hosted Northwest Credible Messenger (NWCM) youth for "Designing the Path,” a custom sneaker workshop. The Re-Sole 206 founder, Takiyah "T-DUB" Ward, whose state-of-the-art facility specializes in sneaker cleaning, restoration, and customizing, was all about sharing her knowledge with the next generation. 

Back2Besa host Besa Gordon recently visited Métier Brewing in the Central District for National Beer Can Appreciation Day on January 24th to chop it up with multi-disciplinary artist Damon Brown, a.k.a. Creative Lou, and Métier Brewing Company owner Rodney Hines. Brown, the visionary behind many of Métier’s iconic cans, is all about representing the stories of Blackness and the soul of Seattle’s Central District.

Takiyah “T-DUB” Ward recently unveiled a new canvas in her portfolio: a custom-painted hockey stick for the Seattle Torrent. Designed specifically for the Torrent’s Black History Celebration Unity Game earlier this month at Climate Pledge Arena, this stunning piece was a gift to the Black Girl Hockey Club that will be independently auctioned off to drive increased access, representation, and belonging for Black women and girls in hockey.