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Sankofa: Day of Traditional African Crafts and Arts

  • ​Clinton ​Avenue ​United Methodist ​Church, 122 ​ Clinton Avenue Kingston, NY, 12401 United States (map)

BY DONATION: Admission is by donation. Pay What You Can or Pay It Forward

Reserve your entry ticket HERE for all of the day's OPEN events.

In celebration of Black History Month, a full day of inspiring workshops and experiences for all ages will be presented by Circle Creative Collective, Harambee, and MyKingstonKids. Exciting, hands-on learning will honor African culture, history, and crafts in a creatively-packed program that is both intergenerational and intercultural. Learn to dye up-cycled fabrics using local plants. Meet a 5th generation African-American sweetgrass basket weaver from South Carolina who will teach weaving with her daughter and granddaughter, and discuss the history and culture of the Gullah Geechee people. Join together in an age old tradition of making free-form quilts inspired by Gee’s Bend quilters. Find out about the secret quilt codes of the Underground Railroad once tucked quietly within stitches of “commonplace” textiles. Cooperate in a community weaving project!


10AM-12:30PM: Gullah Geechee Sweetgrass Basketweaving Workshop: First session For pre-registered participants Learn basket weaving techniques from Martha Cayetano-Howard, Chelsea Cayetano, and Andrea Cayetano-Jefferson from South Carolina.

10AM-All Day: Community Weaving

10:15AM- 12:00PM: Natural Dyeing Upcycled Fabrics using local plants and West African techniques

12:00-1:00PM Performances & Drumming by Ubaka Hill and Center For Creative Education’s P.O.O.K.

1:00-4:00PM: Gullah Geechee Sweetgrass Basketweaving Workshop: Second session For pre-registered participants Learn basket weaving techniques from Martha Cayetano-Howard, Chelsea Cayetano, and Andrea Cayetano-Jefferson from South Carolina.

4:00-5:00: Performances & Drumming by Ubaka Hill and Center For Creative Expression’s P.O.O.K.

4:00-6:00PM: Be Part of Sewing a Free-Form Community Quilt inspired by Gees Bend quilters. learn about African strip-weave techniques and secret Underground Railroad Quilt Codes

5PM: Talk by Gullah Geechee Sweetgrass Basket Weavers on the history and their family connection to this important craft. With Martha Cayetano-Howard, Chelsea Cayetano, and Andrea Cayetano-Jefferson.

Kid's Program: All day by MyKingstonKids

Food throughout the day by Hudson Valley Current’s SATISFY HUNGER


This project is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by Arts Mid-Hudson.

Sponsored by Ulster Savings Bank, Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School, VISITvortex, Hudson Valley Current, Wild Earth and Center For Creative Education, Good Work Institute

LOCATION: Clinton ​Avenue ​United Methodist ​Church, 122 ​Clinton ​Avenue, ​Kingston

Reserve your entry ticket today for all of the day's OPEN events.

Admission is BY DONATION: Pay What You Can or Pay It Forward

Sweetgrass Basket Weaving has very few spots and needs to be reserved in advance SEPARATELY at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/traditional-sweetgrass-basket-weaving-morning-session-tickets-90455740555

Call 845-323-1374 for more info.

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Circle Creative Collective​ is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in the Hudson Valley that ​connects & inspires​ ​diverse communities by​ ​sharing and preserving​ ​traditional crafts & skills.

If you would like more information about this event, would like to interview our team for a story or live interview, or want to be a sponsor, please call Mary Jane Nusbaum at 845-323-1374 or email info@circlecreativecollective.org

Donations welcome of yarn, thread, fabrics, sewing and weaving supplies! Thank you!

Earlier Event: December 3
Kente Cloth-Inspired Woven Bracelets
Later Event: February 15
Traditional Sweetgrass Basket Weaving