Harmonizing in Arkansas: Spirituals

Join us for Harmonizing in Arkansas: Spirituals on Sunday, June 21 at 2 p.m., celebrating traditional spirituals composed between 1619 and 1865. This program will feature a presentation by Dr. Bryan Pierce, Chief Curator of the National Museum of African American Music, and a performance by the Golden Saints Choir of St. Mark Baptist Church of Little Rock. This event is presented in partnership with Humanities Arkansas with program support from the Federation of State Humanities Councils.

This program is part of By the People: Conversations Beyond 250, public programs exploring cultural and creative expression in local communities, produced in collaboration with the Federation of State Humanities Councils. Arrive early and stay late to share your thoughts related to America250. Insights from these conversations will be shared with the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.

The program will be available on our YouTube channel the following day.

ASL interpretation is available during our events.

This program is presented by the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum in partnership with Humanities Arkansas.

About the speaker

Dr. Bryan Pierce is the current Chief Curator of the National Museum of African American Music. He previously held the position of Digital Archivist at Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas. In both his academic work and as a museum professional, Dr. Pierce has specialized in subterranean African American aesthetics in music and decorative arts. He pursued a PhD from Arkansas State University, and throughout his time at ASU, Pierce worked at the Southern Tenant Farmers Museum. He was also on the exhibition development team for the Boyhood Home of Johnny Cash. After completing the doctoral program, Pierce accepted an Assistant Registrar/Curator position with the Department of Arkansas Heritage.

About Harmonizing in Arkansas

Music has always been a part of America. To commemorate America250, the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum is partnering with Humanities Arkansas to celebrate American-made music, particularly styles that flourished in Arkansas during the 20th century.

The Harmonizing in Arkansas initiative is a series of programs highlighting different genres of music, culminating with songwriting workshops during the Arkansas Folklife Festival, June 26-28. All programs are free and open to the public.

Program support provided by the Federation of State Humanities Councils as part of By the People: Conversations Beyond 250, a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.

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