About the Event
HeART & Soul: A Celebration of Black Culture Presents The Harlem Renaissance Experience at the Winter Park Library. This is an immersive and interactive journey designed to celebrate and reflect upon one of American history's most culturally significant movements. The Harlem Renaissance Experience blends art, music, literature, and fashion, bringing to life the vibrancy of the era while inviting participants to engage with its enduring legacy.
Background
The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural explosion of African American creativity, primarily centered in Harlem, New York, during the 1920s and 1930s. It gave rise to some of the most influential artists, musicians, writers, and thinkers of the 20th century. The Winter Park Library exhibition seeks to recreate the atmosphere of this groundbreaking period, offering attendees a multisensory exploration of its icons, ideas, and artistic output.
From Jazz to Poetry: Reliving the Harlem Renaissance
at HeART & Soul
By Mallory Nagler, Public Services Librarian
February 19, 2025
On the morning of December 9, 1885, nine women gathered for their first meeting at the Congregational Church, marking the humble beginnings of the Winter Park Library. Meanwhile, over 1,000 miles to the north, the Harlem neighborhood in northern Manhattan was just beginning to take shape, laying the foundation for its own remarkable story.
This project is funded in part by United Arts of Central Florida, your local agency for the arts.