artEquity Celebrates Connection at the 2026 Black Playwrights Gathering

At a time when artists across many disciplines continue to face isolation and burnout, US’s artEquity is demonstrating the power of gathering in person. Its 2026 Black Playwrights Gathering brought together Black playwrights from across generations for a day centered on community, healing, creativity, and joy.

Held overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the biennial gathering began with drumming, a libation ceremony honoring ancestors, and moments designed to create a welcoming, restorative space. Throughout the day, participants connected through conversation, storytelling, music, dancing, shared meals, and activities that encouraged both rest and creative exchange.

The event was originally launched in 2024 to address the isolation experienced by many Black playwrights. This year’s gathering placed a particular emphasis on intergenerational relationships, creating opportunities for emerging writers and established playwrights to learn from one another while imagining a more connected future for the field.

“I left feeling creatively recharged and grateful to be in a space where Black artists could celebrate, challenge, and inspire one another. It reminded me that the stories we tell are part of a much larger legacy, and I returned home excited to continue developing my own work.” – 2026 participant

One of the most valuable outcomes of the initiative extends beyond the event itself. artEquity has published a free Hosting + Planning Kit that encourages artists, organizations, educators, and community leaders to create their own local Black Playwrights Gatherings. The toolkit offers practical guidance on planning events, creating welcoming spaces, facilitating conversations, honoring elders, organizing creative activities, and documenting gatherings so communities across the country can participate in this growing movement.

The guide suggests a wide range of gathering formats—from play-reading circles and communal writing sessions to potlucks, oral history projects, virtual workshops, story circles, and community celebrations—making it adaptable for groups of any size. Its central message is simple: every local gathering contributes to a broader tapestry of Black creative liberation.

For theatre professionals interested in fostering stronger artistic communities where they live, the artEquity Black Playwrights Gathering Hosting + Planning Kit offers an inspiring and practical starting point. The toolkit is available as a free resource for anyone wishing to bring playwrights together in their own community.

All images and videos are courtesy of artEquity