Brooklyn FAM 2022: Festival of Arts & Music

EVENT POSTPONED due to inclement weather. Stay tuned for the new date!

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Join us at Brooklyn FAM's 2nd annual flagship festival on the east side of Prospect Park! 

This year's FAMily-friendly lineup of theater, dance, music, hands-on workshops, and art-making is guaranteed to knock your socks off. The entire program is FREE TO ALL thanks to generous support from individuals and local businesses. Reserve free tickets for priority access to performances and workshops under the pavilion roof.

The letters F-A-M on this year’s poster express the rich diversity of Chinese, South African, Afro-modern, and Caribbean arts featured on the program. May we come together as one 家 (jiā) or “family” to connect and create. The Chinese character 家 also signifies “kin” or “home” and is used to mean “everybody” or “everyone.” 大家(dàjiā), you’re all invited!

Brooklyn FAM 2022 is honored to be emceed by Brooklyn-based Greginald Spencer, who is a singer, recording artist, international entertainer, community activist, and MC of the famed Amateur Night at the Apollo in Harlem.

BYO blanket and picnic, and enjoy a day of connecting, creating, and making new friends!

On the program

• 10:30 a.m.

Chinese Theatre Works's award-winning hand puppet theater with live musicians on the pipa, zhongruan, and drum. Following the theater program, join a festive procession around the pavilion: play an instrument, wave a ribbon, and learn how to animate large-scale lion and dragon puppets. Bring your own instruments to add to the fanfare.

*Chinese Theatre Works is bringing beautifully refurbished large-scale Zhong Kui, lion, and dragon puppets (think Lunar New Year) that were recently on exhibition at the Museum of New York!

• 11:30 a.m.

Individual jianzi craft activity (毽子; pronounced JEN-zuh). Make your own Chinese hacky sack and learn how to do cool tricks with it! (Latecomers can pick up free craft kits from our check-in table while supplies last.)

• 11:45 a.m.

Performances by MATHETA Dance set to original compositions by South African musician Lesedi Ntsane. The pieces were choreographed by Artistic Director Khensani Mathebula specifically for Brooklyn FAM.

The dance performances will be interwoven with two sets by the Lesedi Ntsane Jazz Trio.

• 12:45 p.m.

A dance workshop led by MATHETA Dance choreographer and artistic director Khensani Mathebula. Learn moves from Khensani's Afro-modern storytelling technique.

• 1:30 p.m.

Tropical Fête takes the stage to perform Caribbean steel pan, teach us how to play a piece, and lead hands-on workshops on 14 steel pan stations.

• Throughout the festival

Gaming table, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Try your hand (and feet!) at Chinese hacky sack (毽子; pronounced JEN-zuh) and jump rope (跳皮筋; tiàopíjīn, pronounced teeyow-pee-jing) and make new friends at the gaming table.

The Chair Project, 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Make your mark on a cool public art project. Led by Brooklyn-based artist Annie Del Hierro, the Chair Project invites everyone to magazine collage on upcycled wooden chairs and benches to the question "What does FAMily mean to you, to us?" The finished pieces will be installed at local businesses and gathering places as cool functional seating to spark new conversations about connection and community. 

• Brooklyn FAM T-shirts

For a suggested donation, pick up a limited-edition Brooklyn FAM t-shirt at our festival check-in table! Brooklyn-based Skool Milk Apparel is our exclusive t-shirt partner. All proceeds will directly benefit the artists who deliver our free programming.

Nearest public transit

- B/Q at Prospect Park and 2/5 at Sterling St. subway stations. Prospect Park is an accessible station (with elevators on platforms in both directions).

- Buses 16, 41, 43, 48

Brooklyn FAM 2022 would not be possible without our generous sponsors!