The Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans (CAC) has announced Dreaming While Awake, a virtual and on-site celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Taking place during the weekend of January 16-18,  the event explores the legacy of Dr. King and the intersections of art and social justice. The weekend’s programming will include complimentary admission for all to Make America What America Must Become, An Exhibition of Gulf South Artists; and SOLOS: Exhibitions and New Work Showcases by CAC Visual Artists-in-Residence Shana griffin, Ana Hernandez, and Sarah Hill.

The CAC will display a community altar in its Atrium dedicated to Dr. King and those who have died in the pursuit of social justice, which will be accompanied by a specially-curated playlist by renowned New Orleans’ DJ Raj Smoove, which will also be available on Spotify. Gallery tickets must be reserved online in advance at cacno.org.

The celebration will continue on the CAC’s virtual platforms as well. On Sunday, January 17, members of the CAC Teen Board will take over the CAC’s Instagram and Facebook platforms to engage in intergenerational dialogue through interviews with CAC exhibition artists and by sharing their reflections on art and social activism. Finally, Dreaming While Awake will culminate in a live virtual panel discussion,  “Art and Activism in a Democratic Future,” streamed to the CAC’s Facebook page.  In its second year of celebrating the legacy of Dr. King, the CAC aims to explore the intersections of art and social justice while engaging young people to interrogate a collective vision for the nation’s future.