APPLY BY MONDAY FEBRUARY 16
HellaBlack is Back! This time, we are looking for youth artists who are interested in being featured in HellaBlack Vol 8. This event will be hosted in the historic Cyclorama at Boston Center for the Arts!
We are looking for artists from the Black, African, African American, Afro Caribbean and Afro Latine diaspora to join us for this edition of HellaBlack curated by Amanda Shea and stay tuned for an announcement on our first ever Associate Curator! The theme for this year is GENESIS – a theme rooted in rebirth, growth, and the act of pushing forward in times of change. We are asking the artists to think of pieces that reflect transformation, emergence, and the courage to build something new – through your art, your process, and your becoming. We are looking for artists between the ages of 16-25 for our first ever youth edition of this event!
We are looking for artists who are:
- Singers, rappers, poets, dancers, musicians, and interdisciplinary artists
- Local to Boston or the Boston Metro Area
- Prepared to present a 10 minute performance-based set
- Artists between the age of 16- 25
- Can attend photo and video sessions, as well as rehearsals
- Can attend the tech rehearsal on Thursday May 28, 2026
- Available for the entire show day on Friday May 29, 2026
BCA will provide:
- Stipends for each individual artist and/or group
- Green room and dressing room space
- Access to 10 hours of rehearsal space at BCA prior to the show date
- Basic lighting and sound (in most cases we are not able to accommodate specific lighting requests)
Important Dates:
- Application deadline: Monday February 16, 2026
- Notification on or around: Monday February 23, 2026
- Tech date: Thursday, May 28, 2026
- Show date: Friday, May 29, 2026