The Rise Symposium exists to create a gathering space for Black artists, thinkers, researchers, and cultural workers to share knowledge, exchange stories, and build connections across communities. Rooted in contributions from Minorit’art, Rise is dedicated to making research accessible, amplifying Black voices, and fostering collaborative practices that resist commodification and erasure. By centering narratives that resist commodification and erasure, the event creates space for dialogue and co-creation across generations. Highlights include three selected student artists showcasing their work, curated by student peers, in alignment with the symposium’s theme of Unfungible narratives.

Through talks, workshops, performances, and student-led projects, the symposium nurtures dialogue between generations and across disciplines. Its purpose is not only to celebrate creativity but also to co-create new understandings, strengthen community networks, and affirm the vital role of Black art and thought in shaping cultural and social futures.