FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Book Black Women, Inc. is pleased to announce it has been awarded a $12,500 Grassroots Arts Program (GAP) Grant from the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County to launch The Yaya’s Cultural Heritage Performance Series, a new year-round initiative celebrating Black history through immersive live performance, music, storytelling, theater, dance, poetry, and community engagement.
Book Black Women was one of several Cumberland County organizations awarded funding through the 2026–2027 Grassroots Arts Program to expand access to arts, cultural, and historical programming throughout the community. Through this investment, the Arts Council continues to strengthen the region’s creative economy while ensuring residents have greater access to meaningful cultural experiences.
“This generous investment from the Arts Council allows us to preserve and celebrate Black history through original artistic experiences while creating new opportunities for local artists and audiences,” said Ayana Washington, Founder and Creative Director of Book Black Women, Inc. “The Yaya’s Cultural Heritage Performance Series was created to educate, inspire, and connect people through the arts, and we’re incredibly grateful to the Arts Council for believing in this vision.”
The $12,500 Grassroots Arts Program Grant will support the development and presentation of The Yaya’s Cultural Heritage Performance Series throughout the 2026–2027 season. The series features five signature productions that each explore a different era and expression of Black culture through immersive storytelling and live performance:
- Yaya’s Sunday Blues – An intimate evening of blues, soul, and cabaret.
- Yaya’s Juke Joint: The Musical Revue – A theatrical celebration of Southern Black music, storytelling, and community traditions.
- Yaya’s House O’ Funk – A vibrant celebration of funk, soul, dance, fashion, and Black joy.
- Yaya’s Muse – A modern jazz, poetry, and storytelling lounge experience celebrating Black artistic expression.
- Yaya’s Amateur Night – A community showcase inspired by the legacy of historic Black performance spaces and dedicated to emerging artists.
Grant funding will support artist fees, production expenses, venue partnerships, marketing, audience development, educational programming, and community engagement efforts, allowing Book Black Women to expand access to high-quality arts and cultural programming throughout Cumberland County.
The project is administered through Cool Spring Downtown District, which serves as Book Black Women’s fiscal agent. Together, the organizations are committed to using arts and culture as a catalyst for community engagement, economic vitality, and tourism by creating experiences that encourage residents and visitors to explore Downtown Fayetteville while celebrating the region’s rich cultural heritage.
Throughout the season, performances will take place at venues across Cumberland County, creating opportunities for audiences to experience different eras of Black history through theater, music, poetry, storytelling, and dance while supporting local artists and strengthening the region’s creative economy.
Grassroots Arts Program Grants increase opportunities for access to arts, cultural, and historical programming in Cumberland County. The grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and municipal entities that demonstrate financial and administrative stability.
To accompany the launch of the series, Book Black Women has also unveiled a dedicated online experience where audiences can explore each production, browse the season lineup, learn about artist opportunities, and stay connected with upcoming performances and community events.
Learn More at: https://bookblackwomen.com/yayas-cultural-heritage-series
About Book Black Women, Inc.
Book Black Women, Inc. is a Fayetteville-based nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating Black stories through literature, performance, arts education, and community programming. Through original productions, cultural initiatives, and strategic partnerships, the organization creates experiences that educate, inspire, strengthen communities, and contribute to the cultural vitality of Cumberland County.
About the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County
The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization based in Fayetteville, NC that connects communities, embraces diversity, promotes individual creativity, advances tourism and economic development, and fosters lifelong learning through the arts. As a primary steward of public and private funding for arts, cultural, and historical activities in the Cape Fear Region, the Arts Council supports artists and organizations that enrich the cultural life of Cumberland County.
Grants, programs, and services of the Arts Council are funded in part through contributions from community partners and through grants from the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County, and the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources.
