Mardi Gras in Harlem: The Black School Dance Party & Art Auction Fundraiser featuring Iconic Headlining DJ Mannie Fresh, hosted by Bevy Smith

Bring Mardi Gras to Harlem!
Dance Party Fundraiser for The Black School Hosted by the one and only Bevy Smith

Supported by lead sponsor, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Enjoy an unforgettable night of Black culture and love as we bring the spirit of New Orleans straight to 125th Street. Dance all night with H-Town’s finest DJ Elevated, the incredible Black Masking Indian and rapper Flagboy Gizlagboy Giz, and New Orleans legend to headline, DJ Mannie Fresh.

Attire: Festive Party Wear! Put on your dancing shoes and get ready to party Mardi Gras style!!

This spectacular celebration will help close the final construction cost gap ($250K left of our 2M total project budget) for The Black Schoolhouse, a community art center and resource hub currently under construction in New Orleans’ historic Seventh Ward. The Black Schoolhouse is a sustainable, community collaboration with shipping container architect designers LOT-EK (New York), Architect of Record Whawn Allen (New Orleans). It is being built by BSquared Builds (New Orleans). Since 2016, The Black School has already engaged 20,000+ community members, trained and employed 44 youth designers, presented 5 Black Love Fests, and partnered with over 150 professional artists. Opening the schoolhouse, our first own physical home, will enable us to support 1000+ more community members every year. Your ticket gets you into the party of the year, AND helps build a space rooted in self-determination, healing, and Black love!

Mardi Gras in Harlem Art Auction
Now through February 6 AND throughout the evening, you’ll have the chance to bid on incredible works from internationally renowned artists across the country, including Cauleen Smith (Chicago), Mario Moore (Detroit), Nic[o] Brierre Aziz (New Orleans), and Yashua Klos (Chicago) who's contributed work Trading Bricks for Flowers, 2025 is displayed below. We are so grateful to these gracious friends for championing Black love and The Black School's mission in this way. Don’t miss the opportunity to take home pieces that speak to the culture and add something meaningful to your collection.

You’re going to have a GOODT time, okay?!

We’ll see you there!

More About The Black School:
Founded by contemporary community-based artists Joseph Cuillier and Shani Peters, The Black School is a community art organization that teaches Black, Indigenous People of Color (BIPoC), and allies to be agents of change in their communities through programming rooted in African diasporic histories. We use art and activism to transform social realities through three core principles: self-determination, healing, and Black love.

***Support for this event is provided in part by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.