Courses:

The inaugural courses in partnership with the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (MCA) are hybrid in format - both online and on the MCA premises. They will address art histories that draw undervalued artists and educators into the art school setting. There is also an interest in the time and place of recent (less than 50 years) art historical phenomena. The New Art School Modality’s Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 courses will focus on the 1970s (FESTAC ’77) and the 1980s (East Village, NY). 

FESTAC ’77: Witnesses, Art Histories, and Documents
10-Week Session
September 26 - Dec 5, 2023
Tuesdays 4:30-7:30 CDT
Hybrid format (@ MCA Chicago & Virtual)


The Fall 2023 course is on FESTAC ’77 and will explore the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture, which took place in Lagos, Nigeria in 1977. The faculty includes FESTAC ’77 participants as well as artists, art historians, and authors of key texts and art histories on FESTAC, as well as those with expertise and knowledge in relevant areas.

Faculty include Darlene Blackburn, Romi Crawford, Fred Moten, Stefano Harney, Ntone Edjabe/Chimurenga, Gerald Williams, Mackda Ghebremariam Tesfau’, Haki Madhubuti, Dindga McCannon, Abdul Alkalimat, K. Kofi Moyo, Roy Lewis, and Andrew Apter. Students will explore FESTAC's dimensionality through art making sessions and art history sessions. The outcome project is in collaboration with the Moleskine Foundation.


Applications open July 15th - September 7th.