(Morristown, NJ, May 2025) — The Juneteenth Arts Celebration is a three-day event that unites four non-profit organizations to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. This FREE event celebrates the African American community and provides the public access to local artists, food, dance, music, and other festivities at major cultural venues in Morristown and Morris Township. The partner organizations involved in this event are Art in the Atrium (ATA), Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morris Arts, and the Morris Museum.
“I’m thrilled to celebrate Juneteenth alongside our esteemed arts organization partners for the third consecutive year,” said Simone Craig, CEO of Art in the Atrium. “This celebration is a meaningful reflection of the cultural significance, resilience, and joy that Juneteenth represents. We look forward to welcoming the community to join us in commemorating this important chapter of our shared history.”
Juneteenth, traditionally observed on June 19, commemorates Black liberation from the institution of slavery that occurred at the end of the Civil War when President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation became law in all states. The day also highlights the resilience, solidarity, and culture of the Blackcommunity. June 19, 1865, was the day word reached the enslaved in Galveston, Texas, although this proclamation had actually ended slavery on paper two years earlier on January 1, 1863.
The Juneteenth Arts Celebration begins with an outdoor concert at the Vail Mansion Lawn on Thursday, June 18, where award-winning vocalist Lynette Sheard will sing popular freedom songs such as “Strange Fruit” by Billie Holiday, “A Change Is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke, and “Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud” by James Brown. African American communities have used music and art, sometimes in place of written communication, to discuss life, death, spiritual philosophies, and emotions to cope with the traumas of being enslaved. This interactive and engaging performance will demonstrate the joy, sorrow, pain, inspiration, discontent, and hope experienced by African Americans on their continued journey towards healing and emotional emancipation.
The arts celebration continues at the Atrium Gallery with a public reception for Another Slice of Sweet Potato Pie on Thursday, June 19. ATA’s 33rd Annual Signature exhibit, curated by Onnie Strother, will feature artist Russell Murray and showcase the work of more than 75 Black and Afro-Latino artists.
The festivities culminate with a free celebration hosted by the Morris Museum on Friday, June 20. Featuring art, performances and music, this special event includes a screening of a documentary short film about New Jersey artist Danielle Scott, curator-led tours of new exhibitions including Troy Jones, special access to the Spark!Lab for families, and a performance by crowd favorite Unity Steppers.
See Juneteenth Arts Celebration schedule of free events below:
Wednesday, June 18
6:00- 7:30 PM
Mayo Performing Arts Center Outdoor Concert with Lynette Sheard and the Lawrence Allen Trio
Vail Mansion Lawn
110 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
Thursday, June 19
6:00-9:00 PM
Art in the Atrium Opening Reception of Another Slice of Sweet Potato Pie
Morris County Administration and Records Building
10 Court Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
Friday, June 20
4:00-9:00 PM
Free Museum admission starts at 4:00 PM
Morris Museum’s Celebration begins at 6:00 PM
6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
For more information and to RSVP, visit: JuneteenthArtsCelebration.com
#JuneteenthMorristown #morrismuseum #artintheatrium #morrisarts
About Art in the Atrium
Art in the Atrium, Inc. (ATA) is a Black-led critically-acclaimed, culture keeping institution founded in Morristown, New Jersey in 1991, that is committed to the celebration and advancement of Black culture. ATA supports and invests in black fine art, and established and emerging artists by giving them visibility and a creative space to breathe. Since its founding, in addition to its exhibits, ATA has provided unique arts education programming through its ATA STEAM Academy program for high school students and gives scholarships to promising black arts students.
About Morris Arts
Founded in 1973, Morris Arts has been building community through the arts for over 50 years. The nonprofit works to provide meaningful artistic experiences for all Morris County residents regardless of age, means, or background. They facilitate high-quality arts education programs for students, community arts events, and arts in health programs that improve participants’ well-being. Additionally, Morris Arts advocates for the arts and regrants state funds to local arts organizations, expanding access to arts experiences throughout Morris County.
About Mayo Performing Arts Center
Mayo Performing Arts Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, presents a wide range of programs that entertain, enrich, and educate the diverse population of the region and enhance the economic vitality of Northern New Jersey. The 2023-2024 season is made possible, in part, by a grant the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as support received from the F.M. Kirby Foundation, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation and numerous corporations, foundations and individuals. Mayo Performing Arts Center was named 2016 Outstanding Historic Theatre by the League of Historic American Theatres and is ranked in the top 50 mid-sized performing arts centers by Pollstar Magazine. More information at www.MayoArts.org.
About the Morris Museum
The Morris Museum—founded in 1913 and located on 8.5 acres in Morris Township, New Jersey since the mid-1960s draws visitors from across the region to its dynamic and acclaimed art exhibitions program and performing arts events. Its 45,000+ object collection of art and material culture from around the world joins the art of our time in displays throughout the Museum’s purpose-built spaces and within the historic Twin Oaks mansion, designed by McKim, Mead & White.
Image Captions: Lynette Sheard. Photo by Allison V. Brown Photography. Russell Murray, Sweet Potato Pie. Photo courtesy of the Murray Family Collection. The Unity Steppers at the Morris Museum. Photo by Haley Miller.
