Black to the Future Festival partners with Christie’s

Afro-Futuristic arts festival Black to the Future will reveal a ‘Manifesto for Black Futures’ at the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton next month in partnership with Christie’s and the Royal Society of Literature. 

Black to the Future (BttF) is a biennial Afro-Futurist celebration of outstanding Black artists, which award-winning author Irenosen Okojie founded last year and now auction house Christie’s has come on board as a partner. 

The event at the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton, south London, on 3rd May will explore the multiplicities and power of Black lives, what Black futures look like and how to create spaces celebrating the richness of Black artistry. Writer Catherine Johnson has been commissioned to write the manifesto, artist Michael Salu will produce an artistic response and curator Debo Amon will lead a roundtable discussion.

There will also be a “radical youth take-over half day” of masterclasses and workshops with young people exploring pathways into different creative industries and the world of auctioneering, taking place at Christie’s in the autumn.

The festival’s first iteration accompanied the “Fantasy: Realms of Imagination” exhibition at the British Library between October 2023 and February 2024, with additional events at the Standard Hotel and Garden Cinema in central London. The Royal Society of Literature has been a partner for the festival since its launch, and is continuing to work with them to support and promote their events. 

Okojie, who is now BttF director, said: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Christie’s. The Manifesto event at the legendary Black Cultural Archives feels particularly galvanising in celebrating the creativity and agency of Black artists to firmly anchor themselves in the future and the centre rather than the margins.  

“Our radical youth take-over half day is about planting seeds while showing exciting young voices what’s possible.”  

Isabel Bardawil, specialist for Christie’s Europe, Middle East and Africa collection, said: “Vision, imagination and creativity collide with the most positive of outcomes at Manifesto events. Christie’s is thrilled to support the Manifesto for Black Futures, a collaboration that brings together two organisations with innovation at their hearts, and we look forward to working together.” 

The next BttF festival edition will return in 2026. 

For more information, visit the event website.