This Juneteenth season, we’re thrilled to announce a collaboration between So Say We All and The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego - La Jolla to present an evening of true stories created in response to and inspired by the exhibition Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys (on display from 18 April to 9 August 2026).

Guided by the philosophy, “By the artists, for the artists, with the people,” Giants is a collection of 37 Black American and diasporic artists showcasing a wide array of skills, approaches, and talents.  At the core, it is a dedication to Black artistry, Black creativity, and most importantly, Black freedom.

We’ll be presenting an evening of narrative pieces that feature Black voices inspired by the artwork in Giants, or more broadly centered around Black freedom. We’re seeking Black artists and writers to submit any of the following:

• True stories

• Narrative poetry

• Personal folklore

• Another form of individual expression

Examples of performances that we’re looking for can be found here, here, and here.

While the final presentations will be 5-10 minutes (~750-1500 words), we are seeking a minimum of 500 words for submission.  When you submit, please indicate how long you anticipate your final piece to be.  A key element of the writing process involves collaborative editing and critique.  All selected participants will be required to attend 2-3 workshops to refine their pieces in preparation for the final show.  Participants will also be assigned a performance coach to help them develop their piece.  

All submissions are due on Friday, May 8 2026.  The show itself will be on Thursday, 18 June 2026 at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego – La Jolla from 6:30-8pm.  Thanks for bringing your Black San Diego stories, spirit, and freedom this Juneteenth season!

Any questions?  Feel free to email info@sosayweallonline.com.