(FREE) Say It Louder: Juneteenth & Pride Open Mic and Art Gathering

Juneteenth + Pride celebration featuring Black and queer NYC artists, live performances, crafts, connection, and community. RSVP today.

FREE TO ATTEND • NO CHECK IN • COMMUNITY EVENT • HELP US REACH OUR 75 PERSON GOAL

Say It Louder is a free Juneteenth and Pride open mic and art gathering in Bushwick, Brooklyn, shaped by Black and queer artists across New York City.

Join us at Saint James Libations, a Black and queer women owned wine bar in Bushwick, for a warm creative afternoon of live music, poetry, spoken word, comedy, hands on crafts, food, drinks, and real community.

Looking for a joyful Juneteenth celebration in Brooklyn, a Pride event in NYC, or a creative gathering in Bushwick, then this is the room to walk into.

If you are not Black and feel a little hesitant, you are still welcome to be with us, and if showing up feels hard, a quiet donation is another way to support the space.

Over 50 people came through our last gathering. Many arrived alone. Most left with new friends, collaborators, and group chats that are still active. This is a space where people talk to strangers, try something new, and remember that New York still has real community in it.

You can come alone. You will not feel alone.

There is no pressure to perform, network, or pretend. You do not have to buy anything to belong here. If you want to support the venue, grab a drink or a bite. If you cannot, you are still welcome. What matters is that you are here.

Saint James Libations has become a cultural anchor in Bushwick, Brooklyn. The space holds about 75 people comfortably, and we are aiming for a full room. RSVPs are free and help us plan for the venue, artists, supplies, and flow of the afternoon.

The venue has given us a $1,500 food and beverage goal for this gathering. RSVPs help us estimate our headcount, and donations help cover the difference if we do not meet that goal through food and drink sales. Every RSVP, share, donation, and purchase helps us keep this event free and accessible.

Food and drink menu:
https://www.toasttab.com/local/order/saint-james-libations-269-stanhope-street

Expect:

1. Live music, poetry, comedy, and spoken word
2. Free hands on crafts and creative takeaways
3. Food and drinks available
4. Meet kind creative and artistic people
5. A space where you can show up alone and still feel held
6. A simple afternoon that ends early enough for you to be home by 8 PM
7. A welcoming room full of Black artists, queer creatives, Brooklyn neighbors, and community minded New Yorkers

This gathering is for anyone who wants a Juneteenth and Pride event that feels grounded, creative, and welcoming. If you are Black, queer, creative, new to NYC, local to Brooklyn, living in Bushwick, or simply looking for meaningful community in New York City, you belong here.

This event uplifts Black voices, celebrates queer joy, and pushes back on the erasure happening across Bushwick by centering artists, neighbors, and community care.

If you want to support and uplift the community, consider helping us keep this space free and accessible. Contributions go directly toward the venue goal, art supplies, sound equipment, signage, permits, and the simple things that make it possible for anyone to walk in without worrying about money.

CashApp: @laifleur
Venmo: @laifleur
PayPal: lailanigibson@gmail.com
Zelle: Contact Lailani

Links

RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/the-art-meetup-4389013
Performer Sign Ups: https://forms.gle/GabU2Jjd7mNTw4N19
More Summer Events: https://www.lailanigibson.com/theartmeetup
Follow @theartmeetup + @nonlocalai