Practical Information & FAQs
Black Art Summer School is a five-day dialogic, performative, and pedagogical program rooted in the imaginative and self-determined artistic, pedagogical, and knowledge practices of the Black Diaspora in Europe and the United States. The program brings together Black artists, educators, thinkers, and cultural workers to cultivate artistic dialogue, foster collective (un)learning, and exchange transformative methodologies.
Black Art Summer School honors the friendships, histories, questions, and networks that carry the energy, spirit, and politics of Black Arts movements across the world. Drawing inspiration from transnational formations—such as the Black Arts Movement (US), The Crystal Working Group (Sudan), Walkaman (Suriname/Netherlands), and the BLK Art Group (UK)—the program turns its attention to the historical practices, artistic references, and evolving horizons that shape Black art across differences of geography, language, and experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is organizing this program?
The program is organized in collaboration with Metro54 in the Netherlands and the Space for Creative Black Imagination in the United States.
What is the application process?
Interested participants must submit their applications by January 23rd. Applications will be reviewed, and a selection will be made based on the alignment of the applicant’s practice with the program's themes.
Can I apply for this upcoming program, if I attended the previous iteration?
We don’t exclude applications from past summer school attendees, however we will be prioritising new applicants.
Conditions of Participation
All selected participants must be available for the entire duration of the programme in Amsterdam, running from June 29 to July 3, 2026.
The sessions will be primarily conducted in English. Participants should have at least a conversational level of spoken English and the ability to comprehend written academic texts in English. Applicants with accessibility requirements should indicate their needs in the application so that appropriate support can be arranged.
Who can apply?
Artists, curators, writers, thinkers, meddlers, players for whom artistic thinking and practice is a central part of the way they engage with the world.
Who can participate?
The program is designed for the selected participants, but some events will be open to the general public
How do I apply?
Please fill out the application form here.
The deadline to apply is January 23rd
Programme Fees
We use a sliding-scale pricing structure to honor differences in access to financial resources across the African and global diaspora. We invite participants to select the rate that reflects their current capacity in the application form.
€500 Supported rate
(Freelancers, cultural workers, artists with limited financial access)
€750 Sustainer rate
(Individuals and institutional workers with higher access to financial resources)
To secure a place in the programme, a deposit must be made by March 1st.
This fee contributes to the overall programme costs, including operational expenses and meals during sessions. Participants who are not residents of Amsterdam are responsible for covering their own travel and living expenses for the duration of the programme.
What does the day-to-day schedule look like?
Each day will consist of a mix of lectures, workshops, discussions, and interactive experiences. Mornings often begin with theoretical sessions or conversations, followed by hands-on workshops and artistic engagements in the afternoon. Evenings may include film screenings, panels, or performances.
Practical Information
Housing in Amsterdam can be pretty expensive. We encourage you to look for accommodation as early as possible, and join with other participants to share housing. We have reserved some rooms as options, but you are free to stay wherever you wish.
Transportation
The majority of sessions will be held at the Metro54 space, which is located 15 mins walking from Amsterdam Central Station. It is easy to get around Amsterdam by public transport using your debit card or by bike.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Tracian Meikle at bas@metro54.nl
Find the link to the signup form here.