about blacklit durham
BlackLit Durham is a bimonthly literary arts event produced by AfriCANthology Canada and generously supported by Ajax Public Library and St. Francis Centre. The series is designed to showcase, highlight, amplify, and celebrate Black Canadian literary voices of all genres in their full splendour and diversity.
Event History
An event featuring contributors to the book AfriCANthology, hosted at St. Francis Centre in June 2022, was such a rousing success that audience members called for a recurring series based on similar themes to showcase Black Canadian artists. The idea for BlackLit Durham was born.
Now into its second full season, BlackLit Durham is the only recurring literary arts focused series of its kind in the eastern GTA, drawing audience members from across Durham Region and beyond.
Our Community
Durham (pop. 697,000 in 2021) is the easternmost regional municipality of the Greater Toronto Area. Most people do not realize that there is a large Black population in the Region. In fact, the Town of Ajax (where the series takes place) has the largest Black population (by percentage) of any municipality in Canada.
Presented by:
UPCOMING Events
Doors open/open mic sign-ups at 6:30 pm & showtime at 7 pm SHARP at all shows.
Wed Dec 13, 2023
BlackLit Durham Literary Showcase
7pm
-
9pm
St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts, & Culture, 78 Church Street. South, Ajax ON, L1S 6B3
Wed Dec 13, 2023
BlackLit Durham Literary Showcase
Our theme is Write for the Season. See Our Featured Writers. PWYC!
7pm
-
9pm
St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts, & Culture, 78 Church Street. South, Ajax ON, L1S 6B3
Wed Feb 21, 2024
BlackLit Durham Literary Showcase
7pm
-
9pm
St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts, & Culture, 78 Church Street. South, Ajax ON, L1S 6B3
Wed Feb 21, 2024
BlackLit Durham Literary Showcase
Our theme is Decade(s) of Black Ink. Featured writers TBA. PWYC!
7pm
-
9pm
St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts, & Culture, 78 Church Street. South, Ajax ON, L1S 6B3
Wed April 24, 2024
BlackLit Durham Literary Showcase
7pm
-
9pm
St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts, & Culture, 78 Church Street. South, Ajax ON, L1S 6B3
Wed April 24, 2024
BlackLit Durham Literary Showcase
Our theme is Black Hope Springs Eternal. Featured writers TBA. PWYC!
7pm
-
9pm
St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts, & Culture, 78 Church Street. South, Ajax ON, L1S 6B3
Wed June 26, 2024
BlackLit Durham Literary Showcase
7pm
-
9pm
St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts, & Culture, 78 Church Street. South, Ajax ON, L1S 6B3
Wed June 26, 2024
BlackLit Durham Literary Showcase
Our theme is Bringing the Heat: Our Second Anniversary Celebration. Featured writers TBA. PWYC!
7pm
-
9pm
St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts, & Culture, 78 Church Street. South, Ajax ON, L1S 6B3
PREVIOUS Events
See event pictures in our Photo Gallery
Wed Oct 25, 2023
BlackLit Durham Literary Showcase
7pm
-
9pm
St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts, & Culture, 78 Church Street. South, Ajax ON, L1S 6B3
Wed Oct 25, 2023
BlackLit Durham Literary Showcase
A Time for Thanksgiving ft Radykal Jahz & Shakkoi with poetry open mic.
7pm
-
9pm
St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts, & Culture, 78 Church Street. South, Ajax ON, L1S 6B3
Sun June 11, 2023
BlackLit Durham Literary Showcase
7pm
-
9pm
St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts, & Culture, 78 Church Street. South, Ajax ON, L1S 6B3
Sun June 11, 2023
BlackLit Durham Literary Showcase
First Anniversary Celebration ft Abigail Grimes, The Pretty Provocative Poet & Judith Shaw.
7pm
-
9pm
St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts, & Culture, 78 Church Street. South, Ajax ON, L1S 6B3
Sun Apr 30, 2023
BlackLit Durham Literary Showcase
7pm
-
9pm
St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts, & Culture, 78 Church Street. South, Ajax ON, L1S 6B3
Sun Apr 30, 2023
BlackLit Durham Literary Showcase
New Beginnings ft Leland Harper, Channon Oyeniran & Thunderclaw Robinson.
7pm
-
9pm
St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts, & Culture, 78 Church Street. South, Ajax ON, L1S 6B3
Thu Apr 6, 2023
An Evening with Local Black Poets and Spoken Word Artists
7pm
-
9pm
Whitby Public Library Central Library, 405 Dundas St. W., Whitby ON, L1N 6A1
Thu Apr 6, 2023
An Evening with Local Black Poets and Spoken Word Artists
NEW Annual National Poetry Month celebration ft Judith Shaw, Daveisha Francis, Thunderclaw Robinson and Greg Frankson in partnership with th...
7pm
-
9pm
Whitby Public Library Central Library, 405 Dundas St. W., Whitby ON, L1N 6A1
Sun Feb 26, 2023
BlackLit Durham Literary Showcase
7pm
-
9pm
St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts, & Culture, 78 Church Street. South, Ajax ON, L1S 6B3
Sun Feb 26, 2023
BlackLit Durham Literary Showcase
Respect Our Canadian BlackLit Elders ft Tanya Turton, Sifton Tracey Anipare, Aaron Berhane (represented by Freweini Berhane) and Mary Anne C...
7pm
-
9pm
St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts, & Culture, 78 Church Street. South, Ajax ON, L1S 6B3
Learn more
Our Next Event
Our Next Event
Our Next Event
Details about the next BlackLit Durham showcase that you don't want to miss!
Partners
Our Next Event
Our Next Event
Details about the organizations that collaborate to present BlackLit Durham.
Contact
Our Next Event
Contact
Reach out to BlackLit Durham with comments, suggestions, and feedback.
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