Values Partnerships hosted “A Toast To Black Art, Love, & Creativity,” an evening dedicated to the celebration of Black artists, revolutionary love, radical imagination, and Black ownership. In collaboration with Confluential Films, the invite-only gathering took place at Lume Studios in New York City during the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival and brought together 80-100 of today’s leading voices across the spectrum of film, music, fashion, art, tech, and activism for an inspiring and exciting evening.
During the “Giving Our People Their Flowers” segment, Values Partnerships honored actor, director, and recording artist Teyana Taylor with the Spotlight Award for her impact on the arts and for her dedication to uplifiting Black culture. Award-winning writer, director, and producer Tommy Oliver and film and television producer Codie Elaine Oliver were also honored for their accomplishments and for promoting Black love and creativity through their film and television projects.
Speaking of the Spotlight honor, Taylor remarked, “I feel blessed to be a part of this special event with all these incredible Black-Founded and Black-Owned companies including Black Girl Magic Wines, Values Partnerships, and Black Love, and to be honored by my community. We’re here tonight to celebrate the power, influence and beauty of Black Art, Love and Creativity. Our impact on the culture and world is undeniable. Our creativity and radical imagination is limitless across art, fashion, design, and our love is something to behold.” She went on to say, “One thing I’ve learned in my career is to not wait for permission or be what you think others want you to be. You are uniquely you, lean into that. You have so much power when you step into your authentic self.”
To commemorate the evening, renowned photographer Reggie Cunningham welcomed guests to a lush photo experience in the “A Toast to Black Art, Love & Creativity” Portrait Studio.
Rising R&B sensation, Ayoni, fresh off her big screen debut in the Alicia Keys-produced documentary “Uncharted,” which debuted earlier in the week at the Tribeca Film Festival, captivated the crowd with a performance of her new single “Purpose.” The program was capped off by a collective celebratory toast presented by Black Girl Magic Wines before guests danced the night away to the sounds of DJ 9AM.
