Who Are We?
The Collective is a New York University organization that aims to promote the growth, knowledge, and support of young Black creatives in the community. Originally founded by a group of 15 students, including actress and alumnus DeWanda Wise, (Drama '06) The Collective has been organizing various events that target the health of the Black art community at NYU such as the Black Arts Festival, Open Mic Nights, artists mixers, and more for years!
Aside from hosting events within the Tisch location, The Collective also organizes group outings to see plays, musicals, and films that showcase Black artists. Some past outings included the productions of Chicken and Biscuits, A Strange Loop, Topdog/Underdog, The Piano Lesson, and even an early screening of The Blackening.
In addition to organizing group outings to participate in current Black artwork, The Collective also sees the importance of hearing Black voices and experiences. Some notable speakers associated with the club include contemporary Black artists such as Jelani Alladin, DeWanda Wise, Matthew A. Cherry, and Kasi Lemmons.