Newark and Harlem’s Shared Renaissance, 100 Years Later
Friday, October 10, 2025 | Newark Symphony Hall | Newark Arts Festival 2025
A Celebration of Art, Culture, and Community
On October 10th, Newark Symphony Hall came alive with history, creativity, and celebration during Sugar Hill to Sugar Hill: Newark and Harlem’s Shared Renaissance, 100 Years Later. This collaborative event, presented by AARP in partnership with Harlem Fine Arts Show, Newark Arts, Edmond’s Honor Bourbon, and community partners, highlighted the unbreakable link between Newark and Harlem’s creative movements—a connection textbooks often overlook.
The evening revealed a truth: Newark and Harlem were never separate in spirit or culture—they were siblings. In the 1920s, while Newark Symphony Hall initially barred African American performers, a thriving “little Harlem” existed in the Old Third Ward, where Black musicians, artists, and entertainers created their own venues and vibrant community. The Renaissance did not wait for permission; it blossomed on the streets. By 1940, Marian Anderson became the first African American to perform at the Hall—a recognition of what the community had already built.
Honoring Legacy Through Art and Performance
The celebration transported attendees into the past, blending visual art, jazz, spoken word, and dialogue. Produced by Dontae Muse of The B.A.G. Tour, in collaboration with Zeale Cre8tive Studio’s Zakiyyah Williams and art collector Adrielle Turner, the exhibition traced the cultural threads linking Newark and Harlem.
From Sunnie Allen’s haunting tribute to Billie Holiday with the Sunday Dinner jazz collective to Positive’s powerful embodiment of Zora Neale Hurston, each performance honored the resilience, creativity, and innovation of Black artists who forged paths despite systemic barriers.
“Young artists can’t go anywhere if they don’t understand where they came from,” noted Talia Young, CEO of Newark Symphony Hall. “The artistry and expression is the same at the core—generations separated by technology and exposure, but united by spirit.”
Community, Memory, and Celebration
Attendees embraced the era with 1920s-inspired fashion, feathered headbands, bold colors, and vintage silhouettes, making the historic hall feel like a living memory of Harlem and Newark’s Renaissance. Actor Khalil Kain reminded the audience that the strength of community is paramount: “Now, more than ever, our community needs to stick together.”
The ethnographic panel, moderated by Tiffany Salas, included Richard E. Pelzer II (Harlem Fine Arts), Levi Brunson, Bernard Jackson, and historian Reginald Blanding Jr., tracing the historical link between Harlem’s Sugar Hill and Newark’s creative neighborhoods. The takeaway: the Renaissance was—and still is—a circular, shared legacy between these twin cities, where artists, writers, and musicians moved fluidly, inspiring each other across generations.
The Art as Argument
Curator Adrielle Turner presented work by Marc Andre, Steve Eloiseau, Dapo Da Vinci, Daquane Cherry, and Cole the Renaissance, demonstrating that the creative spirit of the Renaissance continues. Dapo Da Vinci, now based in Brooklyn, reflected, “For me, the art is a bullet for freedom and medicine for healing.”
Eric Roberson, Grammy-nominated soul artist, framed his role as a community mentor: “Proud uncle means reaching out and making sure the community is straight… ensuring all recognize how we take care of one another.” The message resonated throughout the evening, bridging generations and honoring the elders who lived the history.
Joy, Preservation, and Forward Momentum
The evening opened with a toast by Tracie Franklin of Edmond’s Honor Bourbon, linking history, heritage, and culture in every sip. The celebration reminded us that preservation is active, intentional, and funded—and that Newark Symphony Hall remains a stage pushing culture forward for the next 100 years.
Sugar Hill to Sugar Hill honored the past without being stuck there. It celebrated the living legacy of Black and Brown creativity, proving that what we thought was history is still present, still powerful, and still ours.
Partners and Sponsors
The event was made possible by:
AARP, Edmond’s Honor Bourbon, Harlem Fine Arts Show, Newark Arts, Prudential, Chiffani Brands Unlimited, Victoria Foundation, NJ Economic Development Authority, NJ State Council on the Arts, Discover Jersey Arts, City of Newark, Newark Arts & Education District, and Friends of Newark Arts.
Voices From the Event
“Sugar Hill to Sugar Hill celebrates Harlem and Newark as twin powerhouses of Black and Brown creativity with an evening of performance, artistry, and joy.”
— Talia Young, CEO/President, Newark Symphony Hall
“There’s a natural rhythm between Harlem and Newark—two cultural powerhouses that have always inspired one another. Sugar Hill to Sugar Hill during Newark Arts Festival was a full-circle celebration of heritage, artistry, and the next generation of Black creative brilliance.”
— Lauren LeBeaux Craig, Executive Director, Newark Arts
The JOY Encore: Celebration Continues
Even when the weather delayed the final day of Newark Arts Festival 2025: JOY, the spirit of the festival persisted. The JOY Encore brings performances, experiences, and community energy back to life—reminding us that joy is persistent, defiant, and unstoppable.
Curated merchandise, including the JOY capsule collection, candles by Riesfield NYC, and Laleah Raymond’s JOY picture book, offers ways for attendees to carry the celebration forward.
Sugar Hill to Sugar Hill proved it: Newark and Harlem are siblings in art, culture, and community—and the legacy continues, thriving in performance, visual art, and the shared joy of storytelling.
Co-Curators: Adrielle Turner & Zakiyyah Williams
Presented by: Harlem Fine Arts Show, AARP & Edmond’s Honor Bourbon
Cultural Producer: Dontae Muse
All Photos & Video credit: X Ray Visions Studio
