Programs
Collaborative & Innovative
The Giving Tree is a day of giving. Various items such as new clothing, art works, baby items, household goods, books, gift cards, etc. are openly displayed. Community members come in to choose one item and a boxed food item. It is symbolic of love, respect, generosity, and kindness. No explanation is needed.
The Giving Tree
Honoring Our Ancestors is a free community meal open to the public. Community members come to sit, eat and share a relaxed experience with their family and friends. Honoring Our Ancestors is offered quarterly. It is an offering of our reverence to our ancestors and our humanity - Tekrema’s cultural values.
Honoring Our Ancestors
The Giving Tree is a day of giving. Various items such as new clothing, art works, baby items, household goods, books, gift cards, etc. are openly displayed. Community members come in to choose one item and a boxed food item. It is symbolic of love, respect, generosity, and kindness. No explanation is needed.
The Giving Tree
Honoring Our Ancestors is a free community meal open to the public. Community members come to sit, eat and share a relaxed experience with their family and friends. Honoring Our Ancestors is offered quarterly. It is an offering of our reverence to our ancestors and our humanity - Tekrema’s cultural values.
Honoring Our Ancestors
Maafa Commemoration
February 23, 2024. Program details will be announced.
Maafa is a Swahili term that means "Great Disaster". It specifically pays homage to the chronological period of time between 1525 and 1866 when 12.5 million Africans were captured, enslaved and transported on slave-ships bound for North America, the Caribbean and South America and the millions lost during the European Trans-Atlantic Slave Voyages. The commemoration features a juried art exhibit for youth. This year Tekrema will present a public ceremony at the Mississippi River in the Lower 9th Ward.
The DOMA’s Table is a storytelling contest. All stories must be original and no longer than five minutes. The participant age categories are 6 - 11 years old and 12 - 17 years old. Cash prizes are awarded ranging from $300, $200 and $100 for youth. Community performance artists serve as judges. The adult category will return in 2024.
Tekrema Center announces its 5th open call for local artists, ages 6 – 17, to submit their work for a juried art exhibition and storytelling competition commemorating The Maafa as part of its Black History Celebration on February 24, 2024. The works will be exhibited on February 24, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Andrew “Pete” Sanchez Center, 1616 Fats Domino Avenue. The winning artists will receive a $300 monetary award, with the second and third-place artists receiving $200 and $100, respectively.
There are ten categories to choose for submission. Please follow the simple but ethical guidelines.
Exhibit Guidelines and Rules
An Original Work of Art must be the result of the submitting artist’s ORIGINAL CONCEPT, DESIGN AND EFFORT; i.e., only the creating artist physically controls, directs, and manipulates every element of his/her original concept & design.
COPIES of existing art or artwork made by using another artist’s concept and design will not qualify or be considered for an award.
Category Descriptions
Category A: Oil/Acrylic
Category B: Watercolor/Acrylic
Category C: Pastels
Category D: Drawing
Category E: Mixed Media
Category F: Photography
Category G: Digital Art
Category H: Abstract/Experimental/Non-Objective
Category I: Sculpture
Category J: Studio Fine Crafts
To apply, email TekremaCenter@gmail.com. Please provide the artist’s name and age, parent’s contact, and name and category of work.
The deadline is February 18, 2024.
The DOMA’S Table Competition Rules
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Stories must be told individually.
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Stories SHALL be original in content.
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There are two categories, 6 - 11 years old and 12 -17 years old.
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Stories must be told from memory - Participants will not be allowed to read their stories aloud.
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Stories should be 5 minutes long. A maximum of 8 minutes for all storytellers is suggested and the score will be affected if over 8 minutes.
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Props and/or music are NOT allowed to be used.