Free Black Dirt is a Minneapolis based experimental art collective comprised of co-founders, Erin Sharkey and Junauda Petrus. Free Black Dirt is committed to creating original projects for stage and screen performance, hosting innovative events, providing tailored unique learning opportunities for students and educators, organizing local artists for justice, and promoting and supporting the emerging artists of color community in Minneapolis and beyond.

Wednesday, March 28
Day One: Writers Workshop “Cultivating Your Activist Ancestry”
Location: Old Brick, 6:00-8:00 pm

You’ll learn intersectional approaches and tools for healing and transformation in times of great change and will be supported in reflecting on your personal histories and dream of new ways to create inspired and expansive change in our world.  

Thursday, March 29
Day Two: Writers workshop “Imagination in Memoir Writing”
Location: Old Brick, 6:00-8:00 pm

What is true? What role has imagination played in our lived experience? Explore the role of speculation, invention, and imagination in the personal narrative and why they have a necessary function in writing narratives that have historically been decentered.  Consider how much more true your stories can be when you embrace how you have held possibility in your body.   

Friday, March 30

Day Three: A Salon of Creativity
Location: MERGE, 6:00-9:00 pm

Learn the legacy of black and brown literary salons and pay homage by participating in a literary salon of our own making. Free Black Dirt and students will make creative offerings to the group and listen and appreciate the offerings from their peers.  

Bring a laptop if you have one; paper and pens will also be provided at all events.

Find out more at:

Free Black Dirt’s website: www.freeblackdirt.com

Junauda’s portfolio: http://junaudapetrus.crevado.com/

Erin’s writing and design portfolio: http://www.freeblackdirt.com/erin-sharkey/