JOIN US
as we celebrate community throughout the year!
LEGACY: Programming Curatorial Statement for 26-27
Last year, we reopened the doors of this historic building conjuring the spirit of Nikki Giovanni, recalling her reflections on living in her grandmother’s home — in another Affrilachian space shaped by memory, story, and survival. It was warmth that guided us then — warmth that welcomed community back into a once-dormant center reclaiming its place in the living tapestry of humanity. In 2026–2027, we turn to the words of Maya Angelou: “Our legacy is built on the strength of our ancestors and the dreams of our descendants.”
From that charge emerges a single-word refrain for the year ahead: Legacy.
In a city peppered with legacy neighborhoods working to preserve culture and memory, we anchor our work in the same sacred calling. In a city built by unknown Black hands, we remind our children that everything they see around them carries the love, sweat, blood, and brilliance of those who came before. This year, we echo the cadence of Jay-Z: “Legacy, legacy, legacy… Black excellence, baby, you gon’ let ’em see.”
Our programming will connect past to future, ancestors to those yet unborn, elders to the young. We reject narratives that reduce us to tragedy or what Zora Neale Hurston so poignantly called “sorrow in the corners of our eyes.” We are more than survival stories. We are artists. We are creators. We are the intelligentsia. We are the talented, the activists, the architects of joy. We remind this city and this region that so much of what sustains it has been powered by Black ingenuity.
This year, we will celebrate legacy neighborhoods. We will lift up bodies of work that speak to our national and diasporic inheritance. We will curate spaces that speak intergenerationally — honoring what has been entrusted to us and imagining what is still to come.
Join us for a year of deepening — a year of examining what it means to be bequeathed legacy, and what it means to move that legacy forward into an Afro-future shaped by intention, excellence, and possibility.
On Display: The Newly Acquired James C. McMillan Art Collection
Explore the James C. McMillan Art Collection, on display September 1–October 31 in the YMI’s second-floor art gallery. Born in Sanford, NC, in 1925 and trained at Howard University, McMillan’s work is represented in collections at Guilford College, Bennett College, NCCU, the Weatherspoon Art Museum, and Virginia State University. Visit daily, 10 AM–5 PM, on weekends when the building is open, or by appointment or tour.
A Haunted Souls Soiree: The Return of the Creature of the Black Lagoon
The Creature is back! Join us Friday, October 30, for the Haunted Souls Soiree: The Return of the Creature (from the Black Lagoon). Enjoy music, games, food, and drinks in costumes celebrating Black history, horror, fantasy, and Afrofuturism. Family-friendly fun, with our horror movie beginning at 8 PM!
The Western North Carolina Black Student College Fair
Join us Sunday, November 1, from 2–6 PM for the 2nd Annual Western NC Black Student College Fair! Meet college representatives, explore scholarship opportunities, get essay-writing support, hear from inspiring speakers, and enjoy giveaways. Supported by local organizations, this afternoon is all about helping Black students across Western North Carolina explore their options and leave with the resources, connections, and support they need to get to college!
Art After Dark: Friendsgiving Edition
Art After Dark is back this November, and we’re celebrating the women who keep us fed, loved, laughing, and in line—Big Momma, Granny, and MaDea (Mother Dear)! Join us Friday, November 6, from 7 PM until in the YMI Suites for an evening of food, fellowship, music, community, and libations. Come ready to connect, unwind, and celebrate our culture. Bring something, bring someone, and come as you are!
YMI Open House
Join us at the YMI on Monday, October 26, for an Open House and good conversation about our future! Share your thoughts on programming, fundraising, opportunities for improvement, and our vision for the YMI, including insights from our Mellon-funded consulting project. Your voice matters as we shape what comes next.
Guess Who's Coming To Dinner
Join us at the YMI Cultural Center for an unforgettable evening of theater that sparks conversation, celebrates community, and showcases the enduring power of the performing arts.
Western NC Black Student College Send Off
As a bookend to our College Fair held in November, we would like to invite you to our Western NC Black Student College Send-Off. Come help us celebrate the accomplishments of so many students heading off to school. Please register on our website to attend!
Bridging the Beat presents "Go-Go Live AVL"
Experience the energy, culture, and history of Go-Go—the official music of Washington, D.C.—during an unforgettable weekend in Asheville!
Art After Dark - July Edition
Join us for a contemporary social hour on First Friday! From 7 until, you are invited to one of our art galleries for a social experience that merges contemporary music, libations, and fellowship in one space. It’s a little sophisticated, a little home grown…and a lot of love in one spot.
Black Experience Book Club - Juneteenth Edition
Join us for The Black Experience Book Club, a monthly gathering held every fourth Thursday at either the YMI Cultural Center’s Art Gallery or just around the corner at Noir Collective AVL. This community-centered series is hosted by alexandria ravenel, YMI’s Director of Community Engagement, and is designed to explore literature that centers the voices, histories, and futures of the African Diaspora. For location details or to RSVP, please contact alexandria ravenel directly at alexandria@ymiculturalcenter.org.
Denim & Diamonds: A Junteenth Soiree
Get your denim. Get your diamonds…and join us for something a little southern and a little sophisticated. Live Music. Libations. And a Good Time for Juneteenth!
The Ujamaa Marketplace - Juneteenth Edition
Join us for the Ujamaa Marketplace, where culture meets commerce, creativity, and community—an intentional space where emerging entrepreneurs and artisans showcase their talents, build meaningful connections, and goods to market.
![Impact [.!?$]: An Art Exhibition for Junteenth and Civic Season](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61b8f920c8ce325a6832c80e/1783540744897-L01LZZP4OPS7VUEYAFDE/civic+season+2026%2C+Final-2.png)
Impact [.!?$]: An Art Exhibition for Junteenth and Civic Season
Join us for our annual exhibition on the politics of Black America!
Juneteenth on the Block Full Schedule
Find the full schedule of what’s happening for Juneteenth on the Block here!
Juneteenth 2026 Guided Tour(s) of the YMI
Come take a tour of the YMI with the Executive Director and learn all about its founding, history and nuances. Only on Juneteenth!
Artist Talk with Tarah Singh
Join us for an Artist Talk with Tarah Singh, our featured artist in the gallery.
Art After Dark - June Edition
Join us for a contemporary social hour on First Friday! From 7 until, you are invited to one of our art galleries for a social experience that merges contemporary music, libations, and fellowship in one space. It’s a little sophisticated, a little home grown…and a lot of love in one spot.
Asheville Technology of Participation Training
ToP methods help leaders by equipping them with collaborative tools to build shared understanding with groups, make consensual decisions with stakeholders, and see a group take ownership of their common goal. The training engages in demonstrations, learning, and hands-on practice.
Extended Show with Tarah Singh's Work
Join us for an Extension of Tarah Singh’s show: Reframe - The Deconstruction of Constructs!
Black Experience Book Club - Black Mothers’ Month Edition
Join us for The Black Experience Book Club, a monthly gathering held every fourth Thursday at either the YMI Cultural Center’s Art Gallery or just around the corner at Noir Collective AVL. This community-centered series is hosted by alexandria ravenel, YMI’s Director of Community Engagement, and is designed to explore literature that centers the voices, histories, and futures of the African Diaspora. For location details or to RSVP, please contact alexandria ravenel directly at alexandria@ymiculturalcenter.org.
Mosaic Realty Art Walk & Benefit
Join us for an art walk that seeks to support and benefit a number of non-profits including the YMI Cultural Center. In the YMI’s space will feature Jordan Smith, mixed media painter. Exhibit runs from 1st May - 7th June.
The Ujamaa Marketplace - May Edition
Join us for the Ujamaa Marketplace, where culture meets commerce, creativity, and community—an intentional space where emerging entrepreneurs and artisans showcase their talents, build meaningful connections, and goods to market.
The Black Tie Wedding & Special Event Expo
Saturday, May 2 | 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM | YMI Cultural Center
Join us for an inaugural showcase celebrating Black creativity and businesses in event and wedding services across the region. This special events and wedding fair is designed to highlight multicultural vendors who specialize in bringing meaningful, memorable experiences to life—from caterers and planners to photographers, designers, and beyond.
Vendors are invited to participate and connect directly with couples, organizations, and community members seeking culturally responsive, high-quality event professionals. Vendor registration is open through April 20, with a low-cost vending fee to encourage broad participation and a diverse range of businesses.
Vendors are encouraged to come prepared to make the most of this opportunity by bringing samples, business cards, and pricing or service sheets to share with prospective clients. Musicians and entertainment professionals may register for 30-minute showcase blocks to highlight their talents as DJs or live performers throughout the day. In addition, basement classroom spaces will be available for vendors who wish to collaborate and fully transform a space - creating immersive displays/experiences to demonstrate complete event and wedding design concepts.
Be part of a vibrant day of connection, visibility, and community as we uplift and invest in Black (and Brown)-owned businesses.
Art After Dark
Join us for a contemporary social hour on First Friday! From 7 until, you are invited to one of our art galleries for a social experience that merges contemporary music, libations, and fellowship in one space. It’s a little sophisticated, a little home grown…and a lot of love in one spot.
Tarah Singh First Friday Art Exhibition Reception: Reframe
Join us for the second reception with Tarah Singh about her newest YMI exhibition, Reframe!
Jordan Smith Art Exhibition: In My Element
Join us in the salons for In My Element by Jordan Smith of Decatur, Georgia. His large scale work uses African American icons in mixed media large scale portraiture.
YMI Banjul-Banjo Series Presents Jazz & Soul Sessions SATURDAY EDITION
Join the YMI for an unforgettable Jazz & Soul Session featuring Kelle Jolly and the Will Boyd Project!
YMI Banjul-Banjo Series Presents Jazz & Soul Sessions
Join the YMI for an unforgettable Jazz & Soul Session featuring Kelle Jolly and the Will Boyd Project!
Black Experience Book Club - Spring Edition
Join us for The Black Experience Book Club, a monthly gathering held every fourth Thursday at either the YMI Cultural Center’s Art Gallery or just around the corner at Noir Collective AVL. This community-centered series is hosted by alexandria ravenel, YMI’s Director of Community Engagement, and is designed to explore literature that centers the voices, histories, and futures of the African Diaspora. For location details or to RSVP, please contact alexandria ravenel directly at alexandria@ymiculturalcenter.org.
Tarah Singh Art Exhibition Reception: Reframe
Come experience a reception with Tarah Singh about her newest YMI exhibition Reframe!
The Ujamaa Marketplace
Join us for the Ujamaa Marketplace, where culture meets commerce, creativity, and community—an intentional space where emerging entrepreneurs and artisans showcase their talents, build meaningful connections, and goods to market.
Tarah Singh Exhibition: Reframe-The Deconstruction of Constructs
Join us for an art exhibition by Tarah Singh that explores gender, complexion, and deconstructionism through the medium of paint and portraiture now through May 12th!