BLACK ARTS WEST ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

We are the last surviving elders of Black Arts West Theater and Nublack Arts West theater group in Seattle’s Central District since 1969. As preservers of the oral history of Black Theater in the Pacific Northwest, our mission is to share our experiences and resources with present and future generations, inspiring cultural equity and enhancing the quality of life for Seattle’s creative community.

Douglas Barnett, our founder, described Black Arts/West as Seattle’s first Black theater, which evolved from the Civil Rights-Black Power movements of the 1960s into a nationally recognized entity. It operated as a program encompassing theater, dance, and an art gallery, aimed at empowering youth through essential skills for success.
The surviving members of Black Arts/West Theater, from 1968 to present, are memorializing their stories and showcasing the history of Black theater in Seattle since the 1930s, including seven other theaters that emerged from BAW: The Group Theater, Fox Follies, Paul Robeson, Spectrum, Nu Black Arts West, Sasa Havi Children’s Theater, and Paul Robeson Theater. By sharing our history, we highlight systemic barriers and discrimination faced by Black artists and the Central District, home to Black Arts West Theater.

To address these issues, we are organizing interactive symposiums and panels that will:
• Collaborate with professionals and community members
• Share unique storytelling
• Utilize technological media aids
• Focus on the underserved needs of the Black community
Barnett encapsulated the theater’s purpose with three verbs: Educate, Enlighten, Entertain.