Black Magic: Champion Art Ball

Please note: reserving a ticket does not guarantee you immediate entry into the main performance space if the event is at capacity. Arrive early to avoid waiting in line!

Since 2013, Rashaad Newsome has staged his annual King of Arms Art Ball, a live performance event that brings together renowned figures from the LGBTQ+ ballroom community with luminaries from the worlds of art, fashion, music, literary, and activism. For The Champion Art Ball at Icebox on November 16, 2019, Newsome will continue the tradition of a ball, a historic Harlem-originating competition featuring visual effects and performance. For this event, all categories will be based exclusively on the work and legacy of Black LQBTQ+ artists. The Champion Art Ball will create a platform to celebrate queer artists of color, explore contemporary social justice issues, and provide space for emerging artists to showcase their work. Hosted by Jack Mizrahi and Precious Ebony as the Commentator, judges for the event include – Bill T. Jones, Antwaun Sargent, Dawn Ebony, Erica Kane, Jacen Prodigy, Jasmine Wahi, Jonathan Lyndon Chase, Omari Mizrahi, and more to be announced..

Live Arts encourages a culture of respect around our free programming. It’s easy to forget that, in reality, none of our events are “free” to produce. An engaged and supportive community of artists, scholars, foundations, individual donors, government agencies, sponsors, and partners have generously joined in our efforts to make various events accessible to all audiences without charge. We ask audiences to respect this collective effort and simply let us know if you cannot attend.

If you have a reservation, and will not be able to make the event for whatever reason, just let us know at least as soon as you can. You can reach the box office at 212.924.0077 or boxoffice@newyorklivearts.org; we will shower you with thanks and offer your ticket to another member of the community. Thank you for Respecting the Reservation!

BLACK MAGIC is generously supported by the William Penn Foundation with additional support from New Music USA and the MAP Fund, supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Additional support provided by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund National Endowment for the Arts, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and Partners for New Performance.