(FREE) Say It Louder: Juneteenth & Pride Open Mic and Art Gathering at Saint James Libations – Brooklyn, NY

Free to attend • No check in • Community event • Help us reach our 75 person goal

Say It Louder is a free Juneteenth and Pride open mic and art gathering in Bushwick shaped by Black and queer artists across New York City. Join us at Saint James Libations, a Black and queer women owned wine bar, for an afternoon of live music, poetry, comedy, hands on crafts, food, drinks, and real community.

We are gathering at Saint James Libations, a Black and queer women owned wine bar in Bushwick that has become a home for artists, performers, organizers, and neighbors. The venue has a 75 person minimum, and every RSVP, donation, food purchase, and drink order helps cover venue costs, support a local small business, pay for event production expenses, and make it possible to continue offering accessible community events throughout NYC.

Over 50 people came to our last gathering. Many arrived alone. Most left with new friends and collaborators. You can come alone. You will not feel alone.

If you are not Black and you are wondering whether this space is for you, you are welcome to join us in a way that feels respectful and grounded. If showing up feels hard, a quiet donation is another way to support the community.

RSVPs are free and help us plan for the venue, artists, supplies, and flow of the afternoon.
RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/the-art-meetup-4389013

What This Space Feels Like

Say It Louder is a room where strangers become collaborators, where Black and queer creativity leads, and where New Yorkers remember what real community feels like. Over 50 people came through our last gathering. Many arrived alone. Most left with new friends, collaborators, and group chats that are still active.

You can come alone. You will not feel alone.

There is no pressure to perform, network, or pretend. You do not have to buy anything to belong here. If you’d like to support the venue, grab a drink or a bite. If not, you are still welcome.

Open mic sign ups happen in person. Want performer updates? Fill out the form below to join the performer group chat.

What To Expect

• Live music, poetry, comedy, and spoken word
• Free hands on crafts and creative takeaways
• Food and drinks available for purchase
• A room full of kind creative and artistic people
• A space where you can show up alone and still feel held
• A simple afternoon that ends early enough for you to be home by 8 PM
• A welcoming room shaped by Black artists, queer creatives, Brooklyn neighbors, and community minded New Yorkers

Food and drink menu: https://www.toasttab.com/local/order/saint-james-libations-269-stanhope-street

How To Support

Saint James Libations has given us a food and beverage goal of over 1,000 dollars for this gathering. RSVPs help us estimate our headcount and donations help cover the difference if we do not meet that goal through food and drink sales. Every RSVP, share, donation, and purchase helps us keep this event free and accessible.

All contributions and donations go directly toward the venue goal, art supplies, signage, permits, and the simple things that make it possible for anyone to walk in without worrying about money.

CashApp: @laifleur
Venmo: @laifleur
PayPal: lailanigibson@gmail.com
Zelle: Contact Lailani

Links

RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/the-art-meetup-4389013
Performer Sign Ups: https://forms.gle/GabU2Jjd7mNTw4N19
More Summer Events: https://www.lailanigibson.com/theartmeetup
Follow @theartmeetup + @nonlocalai

The Art Meetup creates welcoming spaces across NYC where Black creatives, artists, culture lovers, and community-minded people can connect, share their work, find inspiration, and feel less alone. If this community has meant something to you, donations help cover venue costs, sound, supplies, signage, printing, permits, programming, and the work that keeps these gatherings possible. RSVP for the next gathering before the room fills up.