Vendors sought for Juneteenth celebration

The Albany Herald, Ga.
·2 min read

ALBANY ─ The Albany Museum of Art is partnering with the Dougherty County School System for a Juneteenth Fine Arts Celebration from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on June 22 at the museum. In preparation for the event, vendors are invited to join in the celebration.

“This event will be a tribute to black history, culture, and achievements through fine arts, performances, crafts, food and more,” AMA Director of Education and Public Programming Annie Vanoteghem said. “We would love for south Georgia businesses, especially black-owned businesses, to be part of this celebration. It is an excellent opportunity for businesses to showcase their products or services, and to meet with the community in a festive atmosphere.”

Juneteenth National Independence Day is observed on June 19 and has been a federal holiday since 2021, but the observance dates to June 19, 1866. That was the first anniversary of the day Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas, which ended slavery more than two months after the end of the Civil War.

“It is the ethical responsibility of all U.S. arts and cultural institutions to create public spaces for all to congregate and celebrate this most recent American federal holiday and the first to obtain legal observance as a federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was designated in 1983,” AMA Executive Director Andrew J. Wulf said. “The AMA honors Juneteenth, our nation’s second independence day, through these upcoming museum programs.”

The Juneteenth Fine Arts Celebration will be free and open to the public. At the event, there will be performances by students in the Dougherty County School System, artwork celebrating Juneteenth and black history by DCSS students, book signings by local black authors, raffle tickets to win a beautiful print of artist Cedric Smith’s painting "From Cotton to Roses," a vendor area highlighting black-owned businesses, and food trucks offering a variety of fare.

Businesses interested in participating can find the registration link at www.albanymuseum.com/juneteenth-vendors-call/.

“Whether you're interested in art, culture, food, or simply enjoying a fun community gathering, there's something for everyone at this Juneteenth Fine Arts Celebration,” Vanoteghem said. “We hope it will be an unforgettable day for everyone.”