Brooklyn Academy of Music

"The one enterprise now before our Borough,—the one most important and immediately pressing upon it,—is the new Academy of Music. For it concerns every resident and is meant for the whole people; it affects every interest and will aid in every good cause." These words, written over a century ago in a fundraising pamphlet to rebuild BAM after the 1903 fire, still resonate today. From its first home on Montague Street to the iconic Beaux-Arts building on Lafayette Avenue, BAM has always been a place for everyone—a space where the arts bring people together, inspire change, and shape communities. The mission remains the same: the arts matter, and they belong to us all. 🎭✨ #BAM #ArtsForAll #BrooklynHistory

It was a night of amazing short films! Honored to be the moderator for the panel of Oscar-qualifying filmmakers. Thanks Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series for inviting me! Brooklyn Academy of Music Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival Carolyn A Butts #films #oscars #shortfilms #BAM

In 2025, we’re honoring the power of the poets in an unapologetic celebration of those who give voice to the voiceless through hip-hop and spoken word. In the spirit of the conscious rap movement of the late 80s and mid-90s, artist-activists and musical disruptors come together on the BAM stage to uplift and celebrate the political force of the art form. Join us as we raise our voices and our microphones to challenge the status quo through the power of awe-inspiring, invincible flow. This year’s celebration features performances by Brooklyn-born hip-hop artist and educator Nejma Nefertiti, rhythmic mastermind Okai, and community-centered hip-hop and poetry virtuoso Sincerity Garcia. 🗓️ April 25 & 26, 2025 🎟️ https://lnkd.in/eePcKJBF 🚸 School-time performances are also on sale now: Apr 22—Apr 25, 2025 https://lnkd.in/ehsB6Cq6

Last week, CMW had the honor of joining the relaunch of the #ItStartswiththeArts campaign at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The rally featured powerful testimonials from arts educators and students and was followed by a thought-provoking symposium at the Mark Morris Dance Center where Council Member Crystal Hudson discussed how the council can help build a coalition in the arts and arts education sectors.

¡Bienvenida Laura!

The people who make BAM special aren’t just behind the scenes—they’re also passionate fans of the arts! We asked our team what performances they’re most excited about this season, and their picks are as eclectic and inspiring as they are. Now it’s your turn: What’s the one show you can’t wait to experience? Drop it in the comments! ⬇️✨ #BAMWinterSpring #LivePerformance #BrooklynArts

BAMkids presents a play about the evolving nature of friendship, "Gimme Please!" The show follows the journey of two friends from initial meeting to lasting connection. Audiences are invited to watch and explore as the two friends pretend, provoke, and persist in getting what they want and need from the world and each other. Through the use of live music, light, and magic, this story draws audiences in with its deep sense of play and honest exploration of growing up and finding your path. We're offering both school-time performances (Mar 26—28), and general public shows (Mar 28—30). Perfectly suited for hands-on adventurers, Gimme Please! starts well before the curtain rises to give families and classes a chance to understand elements of the show during a welcoming 30-minute experience in BAM’s Hillman Studio, where they’ll interact with stimulating props and learn to master the show’s interactive moments to come. By the time you enter the Fishman Space for the 35-minute main event, young ones will feel confident and ready to experience this unique journey toward lasting friendship! Recommended for children ages 0—5. To better support the needs and enjoyment of neurodiverse audience members, we are offering sensory-friendly performances on these dates: Fri, Mar 28 at 1:30pm Sat, Mar 29 at 10:30am Sun, Mar 30 at 1:30pm The artistic integrity of the piece remains unchanged in these performances. Modifications include elimination of blackouts and sudden theatrical cues; maintaining moderate house lighting throughout the performance; lowering the overall volume of sound elements; allowing for audience vocalization and movement; and allowing patron exits and entrances as needed, with the option to view a live feed of the show in a separate, relaxed environment. For #educators, reserve space at school-time performances here: https://lnkd.in/esUnArkw For families, buy tickets here: https://lnkd.in/ejBz2M4P #nyceducators #blackeducator

Our biannual series, produced in partnership with The Luminal Theater and Third Horizon, returns for a weekend of diverse original cinema created by the brightest Caribbean filmmakers. The winter lineup features new work by artists from across the Caribbean and throughout the diaspora, including local creators. 🗓️ Feb 28—Mar 1, 2025 https://lnkd.in/eXVZGpCU — L’homme-vertige: Tales of a City (2024) Dir. Malaury Eloi Paisley 93min, DCP In Guadeloupean Creole and French with English subtitles In the Chanzy neighbourhood of Pointe-à-Pitre, the economic capital of Guadeloupe, bulldozers are pulling down condemned residential blocks. L’homme-vertige: Tales of a City, the debut feature film by Guadeloupean artist Malaury Eloi Paisley, follows wanderers through the city’s empty streets. Featuring a live Q&A with director Odessa Whitlock — Lost Tapes of Antigua 2029 (2024) Dir. Odessa Whitlock, 6min, DCP In English While visiting family in Antigua in early 2029, a woman has recurring glimpses of a catastrophic hurricane that may hit her island. She wants to tell her strong, healthy grandmother to get out before it’s too late but struggles with the choices in front of her. Featuring a pre-recorded Q&A with director Malaury Eloi-Paisley — A Mother Apart (2024) Dir. Laurie Townshend 89min, DCP How do you raise a child when your own mother abandoned you? In a remarkable story of healing and forgiveness, Jamaican-American poet and LGBTQ+ activist Staceyann Chin radically reimagines the essential art of mothering. In seeking her elusive mother—a trail that leads to Brooklyn, Montreal, Cologne, and finally Jamaica—Staceyann and her daughter forge a new sense of home. Join us for a Q&A with Nwa director Hans Augustave, A Mother Apart director Laurie Townshend and film subject Staceyann Chin following the screening. — NWA (2024) Dir. Hans Augustave, 20min, DCP In English, French, and Haitian with English subtitles Frantz, a first-generation Haitian-American boy, is torn between getting a haircut he knows his strict immigrant father would approve of or a trendy cut connecting him to the Black-American culture he's been warned not to embrace.

This past weekend, the 2025 Film Independent Spirit Awards celebrated some of the most exciting films and series to populate the indie space this past year. We were entirely unsurprised, although very delighted, to see several friends and alums of BAM among the nominees and honorees. A huge, loving BAM shoutout to Joanna Arnow (The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed), nominated for Best First Screenplay; to Jane Schoenbrun (I Saw the TV Glow) and Aaron Schimberg (A Different Man), both nominated for Best Screenplay; and to Sarah Winshall, who won the Producers Award, which is given to an emerging producer of quality independent films with limited resources. Additionally, we'd like to congratulate these artists whose work we've had the honor of screening: Annie Baker (Janet Planet), nominated for Best First Screenplay; Sean Baker (Anora), who won Best Director; and Brady Corbet (The Brutalist), nominated for Best Director. These nominations (and awards!) are well-deserved—and we're honored to have been a small part of the vibrant and wonderful community of independent filmmakers and artists. https://lnkd.in/gS5i7wCf

📢 Calling all #educators! Give your students an unforgettable theater experience with Macbeth in Stride! 🎭✨ Obie Award-winner Whitney White reimagines Lady Macbeth’s ambition through pop, rock, gospel, and R&B—bringing Shakespeare to life in a fresh, urgent way. Your students will explore themes of power and identity through a contemporary Black female lens, making this centuries-old classic deeply relevant today. Enhance the experience with a free pre- or post-show workshop led by a BAM teaching artist—available in-person at your school or virtually! Recommended for high school students. Reserve your class’s tickets now: https://bit.ly/3Qv0MF1 📸 : Lauren Miller